Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Elphaba had spent three hours making flyers only to leave every single one of them sitting on her desk.

The realization hit her halfway across campus.

“Damn it,” she muttered under her breath, quickening her pace as the bells signaling the end of afternoon lectures rang out across Shiz. Students poured into the corridors around her in noisy clusters, forcing her to weave between them as she glanced down at her watch.

Ten minutes.

The Animal Student Union meeting was starting in ten minutes, and she still had to make it back to her dorm room, grab the flyers, and cross half the campus again to get to Ozma Towers before everyone else arrived.

“Green means go, go, go!”

Laughter erupted somewhere behind her.

Elphaba clenched her jaw but kept moving.

She had long since learned that acknowledging comments like that only encouraged them.

By the time she reached the doors of Crage Hall, she was slightly out of breath. She hurried up the stairs, pushing open the door to her room hard enough that it bounced lightly against the wall.

Galinda looked up from where she was sprawled across her bed, the Shiz Gazette newsletter spread open in front of her.

“Elphaba,” she said, blinking in surprise. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“Sorry,” Elphaba muttered distractedly as she crossed the room to her side. Compared to the explosion of pinks, creams, and decorative pillows occupying Galinda’s half of the dorm, Elphaba’s side looked almost painfully bare.

She let out a small breath of relief when she spotted the stack of flyers sitting exactly where she’d left them.

“There you are,” she murmured, gathering them quickly into her arms before rifling through the stack to make sure she hadn’t forgotten any pages.

“Have you heard?” Galinda asked, excitement creeping into her voice. “Prince Fiyero is arriving at Shiz today. Everyone’s talking about it.”

Elphaba glanced briefly toward the newsletter in her hands. A large photograph of the prince smiled back at her from the front page beneath some unnecessarily dramatic headline.

Galinda pressed the newsletter lightly against her chest with a dreamy sigh.

“He’s gorgeous.”

“That’s nice,” Elphaba said absently, straightening the flyers against the edge of her desk. “Some of us have more important things to worry about.”

Galinda frowned slightly at that, though whether from annoyance or confusion, Elphaba couldn’t tell.

“Well,” she huffed, “some of us are capable of caring about more than one thing at once.”

Elphaba let out a quiet breath through her nose, already moving back toward the door.

“I’ll see you later.”

And before Galinda could say anything else, she hurried back out into the crowded halls and headed toward Ozma Towers.

She slipped into the small, dimly lit classroom where the others had already gathered around a cluster of desks pushed together into a makeshift table near the back wall. They were already deep in conversation by the time she arrived, half-eaten lunches and scattered papers spread across the desks.

“Sorry I’m late,” Elphaba said, still catching her breath as she dropped the stack of flyers onto the table.

Boq glanced up from where he was organizing sign-up sheets. “You made it before Nyliss started threatening revolution again, so I’d call that early.”

“I heard that,” Nyliss muttered from across the table.

A few quiet laughs rippled through the group as Elphaba slid into one of the empty chairs, already pulling a flyer from the stack.

“We only have twenty minutes before next lecture,” she said, smoothing the paper flat against a desk, “so let’s make sure we’re all on the same page for later.”

The room settled slightly.

“Shiz claims to stand for enlightenment and learning,” Tieran said, leaning forward onto his elbows, “but when was the last time any of us saw an Animal student actually studying here?”

No one answered.

Because they hadn’t.

“Dr. Dillamond said the university denied another accessibility request last week,” Ireya said quietly. “Apparently there weren’t enough resources.”

Nyliss let out a bitter laugh. “Funny how they always seem to have resources for everything else.”

Elphaba’s grip tightened slightly around the edge of the flyer in her hands.

Just last week she had watched Dr. Dillamond struggle to carry a stack of books across campus while students openly mocked him as they passed. None of the faculty had stepped in. Most hadn’t even looked.

“They want Animals teaching less,” Nyliss continued, anger sharpening his voice. “And they definitely don’t want them studying here.”

A heavy silence settled briefly over the room before Elphaba pushed forward.

“We meet by the bell tower at four,” Elphaba continued, holding up one of the flyers. “We hand these out before the crowd gathers, then we begin the speeches once everyone’s in position.”

Boq gave a small nod. “I got the permit approved this morning.”

“Barely,” Nyliss muttered.

Elphaba ignored him.

“We’re not going to get in trouble for this, are we?” Ireya asked quietly, glancing between them with visible unease. “Because Dean Hadstrom already looked irritated the last time we set up outside the west courtyard.”

“This is a peaceful protest,” Elphaba said firmly. “We’re not breaking any rules.”

“Peaceful doesn’t get anyone to listen,” Nyliss cut in, slamming his hand against the desk hard enough to rattle the cups sitting near the edge. “We keep asking politely and nothing changes.”

A tense silence flickered briefly across the room.

Then Elphaba straightened in her chair slightly.

“We do this peacefully,” she repeated, calm but unwavering. “That’s how we make sure they hear us.”

They spent the remainder of the meeting organizing flyers, finishing signs, and running through speeches one final time before everyone headed off to their next lectures.

Elphaba stayed behind a few extra minutes to straighten the classroom back into order. By the time she stacked the scattered papers into neat piles and switched off the lights, the halls outside had mostly emptied.

She adjusted the flyers against her chest and stepped out into the corridor, already mentally reviewing the protest schedule as she walked toward her next class.

Then she stopped short.

She saw her sister further down the hall, her wheelchair paused near the windows lining the corridor.

For a brief moment, their eyes met.

Nessa looked almost as though she intended to come over.

But then her gaze dropped to the stack of flyers in Elphaba’s arms.

The shift in her expression was immediate.

Her mouth tightened slightly.

Disappointment. Frustration. Maybe even embarrassment.

Elphaba couldn’t quite tell anymore.

Without saying a word, Nessa turned her chair sharply and headed down the opposite hallway instead.

Elphaba stood there for a second longer, watching her go.

Something tightened painfully in her chest.

But after a moment, she let out a slow breath and adjusted the flyers in her grip once more.

The protest needed her attention right now.

And so she forced herself to keep walking.

* * *

By the time Fiyero stepped into the quad beside Feldspur, half the campus already seemed to know he had arrived.

Conversations faltered as heads turned in his direction, followed almost immediately by a wave of excited whispering that rippled through the courtyard. Students crowded the stone walkways and leaned over the upper balconies overlooking the quad, all trying to catch a glimpse of the prince from the Vinkus.

“You realize they’re looking at you like you’ve descended from the heavens,” the Horse muttered as they walked further into the quad.

Fiyero let out a quiet laugh, nodding toward the group of students near the fountain who had already dissolved into nervous giggling.

“You should be used to this by now, Felds,” he said easily, lifting a hand in greeting as students continued parting around them to clear a path through the courtyard. “Besides, I probably won’t last any longer at this school than the others.”

A group of girls rushed toward him almost immediately, their faces bright with excitement.

“Are you really a prince?” one of them asked breathlessly.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Fiyero sighed dramatically.

The girls burst into laughter.

A second later he flashed them an easy grin, and the entire group seemed to melt all over again.

Behind him, Feldspur snorted quietly.

“Go on, Prince,” he said, nudging Fiyero lightly with his muzzle. “I’ll give you a moment to bask in your glory. I’m heading to the stables.”

Fiyero laughed under his breath and patted the Horse’s neck before continuing further into the quad.

He unfolded the class schedule Dean Hadstrom had handed him earlier that morning, scanning the buildings surrounding the courtyard while half-listening to the chatter still following him as he passed.

Briscoe Hall.

Now where in Oz was that?

“Are you looking for something?”

Fiyero glanced up to find a pretty blonde girl dressed entirely in pink approaching him, her curls bouncing with every step.

“You seem lost,” she said with a practiced smile, tossing her hair lightly over her shoulder as she stopped in front of him.

Fiyero folded the schedule casually and leaned back against the nearby lamppost.

“Well then,” he said smoothly, “I’m glad you found me.”

The girl laughed softly.

“Do you know where I can find Briscoe Hall?” he asked.

“You’re in luck,” she replied. “I happen to be on my way there now.”

“What a fortunate coincidence.”

They started across the quad together while students continued staring and whispering behind them.

“I’m Galinda, by the way,” she said. “Galinda Upland, of the Upper Uplands.”

“Fiyero Tigelaar,” he replied. “Winkie Country.”

Galinda smiled as though she already knew exactly who he was.

By the time they reached Briscoe Hall, several more heads had turned in their direction.

“Well,” Galinda said as they stopped outside the classroom door, “here we are.”

“Thank you, Galinda Upland of the Upper Uplands.”

She laughed brightly at that.

“You know,” she added, stepping a little closer, “if you’re not doing anything later, I’d be happy to give you a tour of Shiz.”

Fiyero smiled—the same charming smile he had worn so many times before it barely required thought anymore.

“Pick you up at seven?”

“I’m at Crage Hall, room 238,” Galinda said, batting her eyelashes before turning away.

Fiyero watched her disappear back into the flow of students for a moment before letting out an amused breath and slipping into the classroom.

* * *

Though he hadn’t paid much attention to the lectures, Fiyero was finally done with classes for the day.

He ran a hand through his sandy-brown hair as he crossed campus, absentmindedly brushing a loose curl back from his forehead. Being a prince certainly had its advantages and, unlike most students at Shiz, he’d been given a private suite all to himself in the dormitories.

By now, he barely noticed the staring.

The whispers.
The lingering looks.
The way conversations dipped whenever he passed.

Still, he smiled easily in acknowledgment as students glanced his way, slipping into the performance as naturally as breathing.

His steps slowed as distant chanting drifted across the courtyard near the bell tower.

“Let them study, let them write!”

“Animals need equal rights!”

A small group of students stood gathered near the tower steps holding handmade signs and stacks of flyers, their voices echoing across the quad while passing students either stared openly or avoided looking altogether.

Fiyero paused a few feet away, watching for a moment before leaning toward a boy passing beside him.

“Hey,” he said lightly, stopping him. “What’s going on?”

“Just the ASU again,” the boy scoffed, barely slowing his pace. “They’ve been yelling about Animal admissions all week.”

Fiyero frowned slightly and glanced back toward the protest.

For a second, he considered continuing on toward the dormitories.

Then a voice suddenly rose above the chanting, sharp enough to cut clean through the noise around him.

“Every year, the barriers grow higher. Every year fewer Animals are allowed into public spaces, into professions, into schools. And every year, we are expected to stay silent while it happens.”

Without fully realizing it, Fiyero found himself moving closer.

He pushed gently through the edge of the crowd, craning his neck to see who was speaking.

A girl stood at the center of the protest, long black braids falling over the shoulders of her dark jacket.

And green skin.

“The artichoke speaks!” someone shouted from somewhere in the crowd.

Laughter erupted immediately afterward.

Fiyero glanced toward the students laughing before looking back at the girl again, watching for some sign that the comment had affected her.

If it had, she gave no indication.

“Some of you are studying to become doctors,” she continued steadily. “Some of you, lawyers. Teachers. Can you imagine a world where you were denied the freedom to choose? Where education became a privilege instead of a right?”

A mixture of reactions rippled through the crowd—scattered applause, eye rolls, quiet scoffs.

Fiyero barely heard any of it.

There was something strangely captivating about the certainty in her voice. She wasn’t trying to charm the crowd. Wasn’t trying to make them like her.

She simply sounded angry.

And sincere.

The girl paused briefly, scanning the crowd as she spoke.

For the smallest moment, her eyes met his.

But her gaze passed over him almost immediately, continuing through the rest of the students gathered around the protest as though he were no more significant than anyone else standing there.

Something unfamiliar flickered unexpectedly in his chest.

“Your voices matter more than you think,” she continued. “Silence in the face of injustice is not neutrality—it’s participation. We can still choose to make things better. Education should belong to everyone, including our Animal friends and allies.”

The crowd grew noisy again as the girl stepped back and the chanting resumed around her.

Fiyero’s gaze lingered on her anyway.

A second later, one of the protestors—a short boy with curly red hair—hurried toward him holding out a flyer.

“Hi, I’m Boq,” he said quickly. “We’re meeting again tonight at seven. You should come if you’re interested.”

Fiyero accepted the flyer, glancing down at the handwritten meeting details before looking back up.

“Thank you,” he said.

Boq nodded once before rushing back toward the others.

Fiyero folded the flyer neatly and slipped it into his pocket.

Then, before finally turning away, he looked back one last time at the green girl now standing among the other protestors as their chanting echoed once more across the quad.

* * *

Fiyero glanced up from the half-unpacked box sitting at the foot of his bed and checked the clock mounted above his desk.

Nearly six-thirty.

He’d need to head over to Crage Hall soon to meet Galinda.

After returning from classes earlier that afternoon, he’d taken a shower before spending the last couple hours unpacking his things and settling into his new suite. The room was already beginning to look lived in—shirts tossed carelessly across the chair near the window, books stacked unevenly on the desk, his travel bag still lying open near the wardrobe.

He rifled through the closet before settling on a navy blue sweater and pulling it over the white polo shirt he’d changed into earlier.

Crossing toward the mirror, he ran a hand through his hair, brushing a loose curl back into place as familiar blue eyes stared back at him.

He studied his reflection for a moment.

The charming prince.
The effortless smile.
The version of himself everyone else always seemed so eager to believe in.

His gaze dropped briefly before lifting back toward the mirror again.

Here, alone in his room, there was no crowd to entertain. No performance to maintain.

Only his own thoughts.

His mind drifted briefly to his parents and the warning they’d given him before sending him to Shiz—that this would be his last chance at university if he failed to take his studies seriously this time.

Though, admittedly, they’d said something similar about the last few schools too.

It wasn’t that Fiyero couldn’t take his studies seriously.

He just found life easier whenever he avoided thinking too deeply about anything at all.

A quiet breath escaped him before he smiled faintly at himself once more, already preparing to slip back into the familiar role the rest of the world expected from him.

He reached for the campus map sitting on the desk, scanning it for Crage Hall as he slipped a hand absentmindedly into his pocket.

His fingers brushed paper.

Frowning slightly, he pulled out the folded flyer from earlier.

The ASU meeting.

For a moment he simply stared at it.

Then, despite himself, his thoughts drifted back toward the protest outside the bell tower.

Toward the green girl standing at the center of it.

There had been something unsettlingly genuine about the way she spoke. No performance. No attempt to win the crowd over with charm or careful smiles.

Just conviction.

He unfolded the flyer slowly, his curiosity deepening the longer he looked at it.

And before he could think too hard about why, he already knew what he wanted to do.

Fiyero grabbed his shoes quickly and shoved the flyer back into his pocket before heading out toward Crage Hall.

If he hurried, he could still make it there before seven.

A few minutes later, he stopped outside room 238 and knocked lightly against the door.

Galinda opened it almost immediately, still halfway through applying her makeup. Surprise brightened her face the moment she saw him standing there.

“Fiyero, hi,” she smiled. “You’re early. I’m not quite ready yet, if you just give me—”

“I’m terribly sorry to do this last minute,” he interrupted gently, “but would you mind if we took a rain check for tonight? Something came up.”

Her expression faltered slightly.

“Oh,” she said after a moment. “Um… yes, of course. Is everything alright?”

“It is,” Fiyero assured her easily, resting a hand briefly against her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’ll see you later.”

Galinda nodded, though confusion still lingered across her face as she slowly closed the door once more.

Fiyero stood there for another second before pulling the flyer back out of his pocket.

Ozma Towers. Seven o’clock.

He glanced toward the darkening campus outside the dormitory windows before starting forward again, his pace quickening slightly as he crossed through the evening crowds toward the meeting.

He still wasn’t entirely sure what was pulling him there.

Only that, somehow, it was the first thing all day that had felt real.

Chapter Text

By ten past seven, it had become painfully clear that nobody else was coming.

The handful of students gathered around the makeshift table had mostly stopped pretending otherwise. Even Boq had finally given up glancing hopefully toward the door every few minutes.

Elphaba let out a slow breath before straightening slightly in her chair.

“Well,” she said, lifting her chin, “let’s get started on our debrief.”

“There’s not much to debrief,” Nyliss muttered, folding his arms across his chest. “As usual, these privileged students don’t care enough to actually get involved.”

Tieran and Ireya nodded in quiet agreement.

“It doesn’t mean we stop fighting,” Elphaba replied firmly, leaning forward slightly. “We need to—”

She stopped abruptly at the sound of the classroom door creaking open.

Every head in the room turned toward it.

For a brief second, nobody spoke.

Fiyero stood in the doorway, one hand still resting against the handle as though he was suddenly uncertain whether he should have come at all. With every eye in the room fixed on him, he paused before closing the door behind him.

“Hey, you actually came,” Boq said, breaking the silence. He stood quickly, offering Fiyero a welcoming smile as he pulled out the chair beside him.

“Hello,” Fiyero said as he approached the table. “I’m Fiyero—”

“We know who you are,” Nyliss cut in flatly. “You lost?”

Elphaba shot him a warning look.

“No, I…” Fiyero glanced briefly around the room before continuing. “I saw you earlier. By the bell tower. I just wanted to know more.”

He slid into the chair Boq had pulled out for him, directly across from Elphaba.

Their eyes met briefly, and after a moment, she offered him a small smile.

“Thank you for coming, Fiyero.”

He nodded once, a faint smile pulling at his mouth.

Across the table, Ireya and Tieran exchanged a quick glance but said nothing.

“I’m Elphaba,” she continued before gesturing around the table. “This is Tieran, Ireya, Nyliss, and you’ve already met Boq.”

Quiet greetings circled the table as Fiyero nodded politely in acknowledgment.

“We were just discussing our next plan of action,” Elphaba said, picking up a pencil.

She leaned over the worn campus map spread across the desks, several locations already marked with rough Xs and circles. Drawing another circle onto the paper, she glanced back up.

“Briscoe Hall,” she said. “We set up outside after lectures let out and catch students while they’re leaving class.”

“That could work,” Boq agreed. “But we’d need another permit.”

“Couldn’t we try going directly to Dean Hadstrom again?” Tieran suggested. “He’s the one who could actually move the Animal admissions issue forward.”

“We already tried that,” Nyliss cut in. “He wouldn’t even see us.”

“There’s only five of us,” Ireya said quietly before glancing toward Fiyero. “Well… maybe six.”

Elphaba paused briefly before shaking her head.

“We need to go higher than the dean,” she said. “The head of academic affairs, maybe even the university board.”

She tapped the pencil lightly against the map.

“But Ireya’s right. There aren’t enough of us.”

Her gaze moved slowly around the table.

“There’s power in numbers,” she continued steadily. “We need more students willing to fight for this.”

Then she looked over at Fiyero.

“What do you think?”

Fiyero leaned back slightly in his chair, turning a pencil between his fingers.

“I think people heard you,” he said after a moment.

Nyliss scoffed quietly. “Could’ve fooled me.”

“No,” Fiyero replied calmly. “I mean it. They stopped to watch, didn’t they?”

“Watching isn’t the same thing as caring,” Elphaba said.

“Maybe not,” Fiyero admitted. “But most people here have spent their entire lives learning not to look too closely at things that make them uncomfortable.”

The room fell briefly quiet.

“You’re asking them to care about something they’ve never even had to think about before.”

Elphaba looked at him, uncertain what to make of what he’d said. The strange thing was, he seemed to genuinely believe it.

And a part of her didn’t want to admit that maybe he was right.

“So how do we make them care?” Tieran asked.

The room fell quiet again.

Elphaba glanced toward Fiyero instinctively and found him already watching her.

There was something thoughtful in his expression. Intent. Like he was trying to understand her in a way nobody ever really had before.

It unsettled her enough that she looked away first.

“Let’s think on it,” she said after a moment, straightening slightly in her chair. “But for now, I still think our best bet is Briscoe Hall. If we want people to care, then we start by raising awareness.”

The others nodded quietly in agreement.

Elphaba traced her pencil across the map as she outlined their next steps, the others leaning in around the table as she spoke.

After a while, she finally glanced up at the clock on the wall and set the pencil down.

“Let’s call it a night, everyone.”

They packed away the papers and pencils before moving the desks back into their usual places. By the time everyone finally filtered out of the classroom, the halls of Ozma Towers had gone quiet.

Outside, the group exchanged tired goodnights as they slowly split off toward their respective dormitories. Ireya lingered a short distance away near the courtyard path, waiting for Elphaba so they could make their usual walk back to Crage Hall together.

Elphaba had already started toward her when she hesitated.

Then she turned back.

“Hey, Fiyero.”

He stopped a few steps ahead and turned to face her.

“Thanks for coming tonight,” she said. “And… for what you said.”

For a moment, he simply looked at her.

That same unreadable expression crossed his face again—thoughtful enough that she suddenly found it difficult to hold his gaze.

Then he smiled.

“Thanks for letting me join you.”

Something in his voice sounded unexpectedly sincere.

Elphaba found herself returning the smile before she fully meant to.

“I’ll see you around,” she said. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Elphaba.”

She turned quickly after that and headed back toward Ireya.

As they crossed the dark campus toward Crage Hall, Elphaba caught herself thinking about Fiyero again despite every attempt not to.

By the time she and Ireya reached the second floor, the dormitory halls had mostly fallen quiet.

“Goodnight,” Ireya murmured softly before disappearing into her room.

Elphaba slipped quietly into her own dorm to find Galinda still awake, lying in her bed with a novel open in her hands.

“Hey, Galinda,” Elphaba said, crossing toward her side of the room.

“Hey,” Galinda replied, sitting up slightly. “Good meeting?”

“You will never believe what happened,” Elphaba started, shrugging out of her jacket.

“No, you will never believe what happened to me,” Galinda interrupted dramatically. “It’s tragic, really. I was supposed to go on a date with Fiyero tonight—you know, the prince—and he canceled at the last minute.”

Elphaba stilled.

“What?” she asked quietly.

“I know,” Galinda sighed, nodding. “He said something came up. What could possibly have been more important than a date with me?”

Elphaba felt something tighten unexpectedly in her chest as the realization settled over her.

He had canceled his date with Galinda to come to the ASU meeting.

That had mattered more to him.

Slowly, she crossed to her bed and sat down, her thoughts drifting back to the classroom earlier that evening—to the sincerity in his voice, the quiet intent behind his words.

She had expected a shallow prince.

More and more, she was beginning to think she had been wrong.

“So?” Galinda asked, pulling Elphaba from her thoughts. “What happened at your meeting?”

“Um… nothing,” Elphaba said after a small pause. “It’s just been a very strange day.”

“Ugh,” Galinda groaned dramatically, flopping back against her pillows. “Tell me about it.”

Later that night, after changing for bed, Elphaba lay awake staring up at the dark ceiling above her.

Her thoughts drifted unwillingly back toward Fiyero—the things he had said, the strange look she kept catching in his eyes whenever he looked at her.

And for the first time, Elphaba realized that people were not always as simple as they first appeared.

* * *

“Settle down, students! Please take your seats!”

Elphaba slipped into the noisy classroom while Dr. Dillamond struggled to manage the bustle of students arriving for Life Sciences.

She made her way toward her usual seat near the back and noticed Boq and Nessa already there, laughing quietly about something together.

Elphaba hadn’t seen her sister laugh much lately.

Ever since Elphaba had taken a more visible role in the ASU, Nessa had begun pulling further and further away from her. Though, strangely enough, that distance never seemed to extend to Boq.

Boq spotted Elphaba first and waved her over with a warm smile.

“Hey, Elphaba.”

“Hey, Boq,” Elphaba replied as she slid into her seat beside them. Then, after a small pause: “Nessa.”

“Hi,” Nessa said softly, offering a brief smile before turning back toward Boq.

Just then, Galinda swept into the classroom surrounded by Pfannee and Shenshen, laughing loudly enough to draw half the room’s attention with her.

Elphaba rolled her eyes and opened her notebook, glancing over the notes from the previous lecture.

“Settle down, please!”

The room gradually quieted as students settled into their seats and Dr. Dillamond finally moved toward the front of the classroom.

“As some of you may already know,” the Goat began from behind the small lectern, “the Animal population has been diminishing across several professions throughout Oz.”

Elphaba immediately sat up straighter, listening intently.

“Animals are increasingly being denied positions in healthcare, finance, hospitality…” Bitterness crept quietly into his voice. “And soon, I fear, education as well.”

Elphaba felt her stomach tighten.

She glanced toward Boq, whose expression mirrored the same unease settling heavily in her chest.

“Dr. Dillamond?”

Elphaba turned to see Galinda raising her hand.

“Yes, G-l-linda?” the Goat stammered.

“Actually, it’s Galinda,” she corrected brightly. “Ga-linda.”

“Yes, G-l-linda.”

Galinda let out an exaggerated sigh.

“No, no. Ga-linda. It really isn’t that difficult—”

“It really doesn’t matter, Galinda,” Elphaba snapped suddenly, drawing startled looks from several students nearby.

Above them, the classroom lights flickered briefly before steadying again.

 “I’m sure Dr. Dillamond has more important things to worry about than pronouncing your name correctly.”

Silence settled briefly over the room.

“Well, it isn’t that hard,” Galinda muttered under her breath as she sank back into her seat.

Just then, the classroom door opened again.

Fiyero hurried into the room, immediately pulling attention toward himself as conversations and whispers rippled through the class.

“Sorry I’m late,” he said apologetically. “Still figuring out my way around campus.”

“Fiyero, over here!” Galinda called, straightening immediately as she motioned toward the empty desk beside her.

Fiyero smiled easily and made his way toward the open seat.

Elphaba found herself watching him as he crossed the room, her thoughts flickering briefly back toward the previous evening.

As though sensing her gaze, Fiyero glanced over.

His eyes met hers and something in his expression softened.

“Elphaba.”

“Fiyero,” she replied, a small smile slipping onto her face before she could stop it.

Beside them, Galinda frowned slightly, her gaze flicking between the two of them.

“Wait…” she said slowly. “You two know each other?”

“Yeah,” Elphaba replied. “We’ve met.”

A puzzled expression crossed Galinda’s face, but before she could ask anything else, Dr. Dillamond continued speaking.

“With these recent developments,” the Goat said carefully, “we want to ensure that Shiz remains a place where Animals are still permitted to teach and seek employment.”

Elphaba immediately leaned forward and raised her hand.

“Yes, Elphaba?”

“What is the administration doing about this?” she asked, drawing several groans from around the classroom. Ignoring them, she continued. “And what about Animals who want to study here? Are their admissions even being considered?”

Dr. Dillamond hesitated briefly.

“I do not yet have all the answers,” he admitted. “But with Madame Morrible joining the oversight board this term, there is at least hope that some concerns may finally be heard.”

Elphaba nodded slowly and settled back into her seat.

Almost without thinking, she glanced toward Fiyero.

He was already watching her.

There was that same attentive look in his eyes she had noticed the night before, enough to unsettle her slightly.

She offered him a quick smile before looking away again.

The bell signaling the end of the lecture eventually rang out, and students immediately began pouring into the noisy hallways outside.

Elphaba lingered behind once the classroom had mostly emptied, wanting a quick word with Dr. Dillamond.

“How did the meeting go last night?” the Goat asked as she approached the lectern.

Elphaba hesitated slightly. “Not as many people came as we’d hoped.”

Dr. Dillamond nodded slowly, looking unsurprised.

“But we’re planning another outreach event,” she continued quickly. “I think if we keep trying, eventually people will understand why this matters.”

The Goat adjusted the stack of notes resting near the base of the lectern with one hoof.

“Just… be careful, Elphaba,” he said quietly. “Tensions around the university have been growing worse lately.”

“That’s exactly why we can’t stop,” she replied firmly as she held her books tightly against her. “But we’ll be careful.”

She offered him a small smile.

“See you later, Dr. Dillamond.”

She slipped out of the classroom and almost startled when she found Fiyero waiting beside the door.

“Hey,” she said, smiling curiously as the door swung shut behind her. “Are you waiting for me?”

He smiled back and nodded once.

“I heard what Dr. Dillamond said in there,” he replied. “I wanted to talk about our next steps.”

Elphaba nearly raised an eyebrow.

Our next steps?

“Come on,” he said lightly. “I’ll walk you to your next class.”

As they moved through the crowded hallways together, Elphaba could feel students staring openly as they passed.

Fiyero either didn’t notice or simply didn’t care.

“Well,” Elphaba began, adjusting the books in her arms, “our current plan is still to table outside Briscoe like we discussed. We just need approval for the permit.”

Fiyero was quiet for a moment before looking over at her.

“Do you really think that’ll be enough?”

Elphaba frowned slightly and slowed her steps.

“I think it’s worth trying,” she replied. “I’ve been doing this for a long time, Fiyero. I know how these things work.”

“I know,” he said quickly, stepping slightly in front of her as they stopped near the stairwell. “But what if there’s something else we could try?”

Elphaba tightened her grip slightly around her books and looked up at him.

“Go on.”

They started walking again.

“You said there’s power in numbers, and I’ve studied at enough schools to know students talk,” Fiyero said. “Especially when they think something matters.”

Elphaba studied him for a moment.

“Most of them don’t.”

“Not yet,” he replied calmly. “But Shiz isn’t the only university in Oz.”

Elphaba glanced over at him thoughtfully.

“Organizing across universities isn’t that simple.”

“I know,” he agreed. “But I have access to those schools. I know people there. Getting through the doors might be easier for me than it is for you.”

She opened her mouth to argue, then stopped herself.

It actually wasn’t a bad idea.

“Let’s discuss it with the others,” she said slowly as they reached the door to her next class. “But… I think maybe we could make it work.”

Something in Fiyero’s expression brightened immediately.

He looked down at her with such easy fondness that she couldn’t help smiling back.

“Great,” he said, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder lightly. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Her breath nearly caught at the sudden warmth of his hand against her shoulder, but she managed a small nod as he turned and started back down the hallway.

Elphaba watched him go.

The more she got to know him, the more he surprised her.

Just yesterday, she had dismissed him as another shallow prince more interested in parties and attention than anything meaningful.

Now she wasn’t so sure.

“What was he talking to you about?”

Elphaba turned at the sound of Nessa’s voice.

Her sister paused a few feet away in her chair, her expression tense enough to border on disapproval.

Elphaba let out a quiet breath through her nose.

“Why does it matter to you?”

“I’d just be careful around someone like him,” Nessa said, ignoring the question.

“Someone like what?”

“Someone who only cares about having fun,” Nessa replied. “Do you know this is his sixth university? He’s been thrown out of all the others.”

Elphaba fell quiet for a moment.

Her thoughts drifted briefly back toward the look in Fiyero’s eyes when he talked about the ASU.

“You don’t even know him, Nessa.”

“Neither do you,” Nessa shot back. “Just… be careful.”

Elphaba tightened her grip slightly around her books.

“I’m late for class.”

Without waiting for another response, she slipped into the classroom and made her way toward her desk.

She didn’t know much about Fiyero’s past.

She didn’t know why he had transferred so many times, or whether the stories people told about him were true.

But Elphaba knew what it felt like to be judged before anyone bothered trying to understand you.

And whatever everyone else seemed to think about Fiyero, she had seen something different.

Something earnest.

Something sincere.

And despite every reason she probably should have been cautious, she found herself wanting to believe in him anyway.

Chapter Text

The sharp clang of crossed blades echoed through the fencing hall as Fiyero drove Avaric backward across the strip.

“You’re distracted,” Avaric laughed.

Fiyero barely recovered in time to parry the next strike.

A second later, Avaric’s blade tapped sharply against his chest.

“There it is,” Avaric said triumphantly, pulling off his mask. “Knew I’d get you eventually.”

Fiyero let out a short laugh as he lowered his blade, though his thoughts were still lingering stubbornly on a pair of dark green eyes from the day before.

“Enjoy it while it lasts,” Fiyero grinned at his old friend.

“Oh, I fully intend to.”

Fiyero pulled off his mask as they made their way toward the locker room, both still slightly out of breath.

“Seriously, what’s gotten into you lately?” Avaric asked as they pushed through the locker room doors together. “I haven’t seen you this distracted since Gladstone.”

“I’m wounded.”

“You should be. I just beat you.”

Fiyero laughed quietly as he tugged off one glove and pulled open his locker.

A folded flyer slipped loose from between his books and drifted onto the bench below.

Avaric frowned.

“What’s that?”

He bent to pick it up, confusion giving way quickly to amusement as he looked it over.

“No way,” he said, grinning. “Is this ASU propaganda?”

Fiyero paused briefly before shrugging.

“It’s just a flyer, Av.”

He took it back gently and slid it between his books again while Avaric watched him curiously.

“You’re not seriously thinking about getting involved with them, are you?”

“Depends,” Fiyero replied lightly. “They don’t seem nearly as unbearable as everyone makes them out to be.”

Avaric scoffed as he unzipped his fencing jacket.

“They take themselves too seriously,” he said. “Especially the green girl.”

Fiyero glanced over at him.

“Elphaba.”

Avaric blinked.

“What?”

“Her name is Elphaba.”

Something unreadable flickered briefly across Avaric’s face before he laughed under his breath.

“Right,” he said slowly. “Elphaba.”

He grabbed a towel from his locker.

“Well, whatever her name is, she seems exhausting.”

“Maybe she just cares about something real.”

The words left Fiyero’s mouth before he realized he was saying them.

Avaric stared at him for a second.

“Wow,” he said finally. “You are in deep.”

Fiyero snorted despite himself.

“I’m not in anything.”

“Sure.”

Fiyero laughed softly, but his thoughts drifted again toward Elphaba—the conviction in her voice, the sharp intelligence behind everything she said, the way she looked at people like she was trying to see who they really were beneath all the performance.

He wasn’t entirely sure why he kept thinking about her.

Only that he did.

A second later, Avaric swatted him lightly with his towel.

“Everything okay in there?” he asked. “You only get this weird when something’s actually gotten under your skin.”

Fiyero huffed out another laugh and ran a hand through his damp hair.

“Yeah, fine,” he said, grabbing his towel from the locker. “I’m going to shower.”

He headed toward the showers, leaving Avaric staring after him with open confusion.

Because somehow, without Fiyero fully realizing when it had happened, parties and distractions had stopped being the first thing on his mind.

Now, far more often than not, his thoughts kept circling back to Elphaba Thropp.

* * *

The dining hall was already loud by lunchtime, filled with conversation and the scrape of chairs across the stone floor.

Fiyero moved through the serving line with a tray in hand, barely paying attention as he picked out something to eat before turning back toward the crowded dining hall.

It had been a little over a week since arriving at Shiz, but he could still feel the stares that followed him whenever he walked into a room—the whispers, the quiet giggles, the constant attention that seemed to cling to him no matter where he went.

The dining hall had already divided itself into familiar groups.

The louder, more popular students gathered around the large tables near the windows, while the quieter, less noticed students kept mostly to the smaller tables along the edges of the room.

Fiyero spotted Elphaba almost immediately.

She sat at a small round table near the far side of the hall with Boq, Ireya, Tieran, and Nyliss, absently turning a fork between her fingers while the others talked around her.

As though sensing his gaze, she looked up.

A small smile formed on her face the moment their eyes met.

Fiyero felt his heartbeat stumble unexpectedly and smiled back, already taking a step toward her table.

“Fiyero!”

He turned at the sound of his name.

Across the dining hall, Avaric waved him over from one of the crowded tables near the windows, where Galinda sat between Pfannee and Shenshen. Galinda brightened immediately when she saw him looking their way, motioning eagerly toward the empty seat beside her.

Fiyero glanced back toward Elphaba.

The smile had already disappeared from her face.

She had noticed the other table.

Now she was looking down at her tray instead, avoiding his gaze completely.

Something in Fiyero’s chest twisted sharply.

He let out a slow breath before looking once more toward Avaric and Galinda, offering them only a brief nod of acknowledgment.

Then he turned and walked toward the ASU table instead.

Conversation around the table quieted almost immediately as he approached.

“Is it alright if I join you?” he asked, setting his tray down carefully.

Elphaba looked up at him, genuine surprise crossing her face.

He noticed her eyes drift briefly toward the other side of the dining hall, where Avaric and Galinda were still watching them with obvious confusion.

“Sure,” she said after a moment, pulling out the empty chair beside her.

Fiyero sat down as the rest of the table looked at him with varying degrees of suspicion and curiosity.

Nyliss furrowed his brow slightly but stayed silent. Across from him, Ireya and Tieran exchanged a quick glance before looking back toward Fiyero.

“So,” Boq said finally, breaking the silence with a welcoming smile, “how’s it going?”

Fiyero looked sideways toward Elphaba before answering.

“Better now.”

Elphaba looked back at him, the corners of her mouth lifting into a small, almost shy smile.

Something about it made him feel unexpectedly lighter.

Fiyero found himself smiling back before turning toward the rest of the table.

“So,” he said, glancing skeptically down at his tray, “does the food here always look this questionable, or did I just arrive on a bad day?”

Boq snorted into his drink while Ireya laughed quietly beside him.

“Trust me,” Tieran said, “this is actually one of the better meals.”

“That’s deeply concerning.”

The table broke into laughter, and just like that, the tension dissolved almost completely.

Conversation gradually picked back up around them as though Fiyero had always been sitting there.

He could still feel eyes following them from across the dining hall.

But strangely enough, for the first time since arriving at Shiz, he found that he didn’t really care.

* * *

Unlike most student meetings at Shiz, nobody in the ASU ever seemed relaxed.

Conversations moved quickly around the classroom as the group gathered around the pushed-together desks, stacks of flyers and handwritten notes scattered between them.

At the center of it all, Elphaba stood leaning over a handwritten meeting agenda, already deep in discussion with Nyliss before the meeting had even properly begun.

She looked up as Fiyero approached the table, a small smile appearing on her face, and he felt his chest tighten the way it seemed to now whenever their eyes met.

He returned the smile, greeting everyone around the table as he slid into the chair beside Tieran.

“Now that we’re all here,” Elphaba said as she took her seat and looked around the room, “let’s get started.”

Fiyero leaned forward slightly, watching as her pencil traced slowly down the page of her agenda.

“First,” Elphaba said, glancing briefly around the table, “I wanted to talk about Madame Morrible joining the oversight board.”

A few quiet murmurs moved around the room.

“Dr. Dillamond mentioned it in class yesterday,” Boq said.

Nyliss leaned back in his chair with a skeptical look.

“And we’re supposed to believe one new board member is suddenly going to change anything?”

“Maybe not,” Elphaba admitted. “But Morrible is one of the most influential sorceresses in Oz. If anyone has the power to push the administration to actually listen, it’s her.”

Fiyero noticed the way her expression sharpened slightly as she spoke—hopeful, but determined.

“You really trust her?” Tieran asked.

Elphaba hesitated briefly.

“I don’t know her well enough yet to trust her,” she said honestly. “But I’m starting sorcery lessons with her next week. If there’s an opportunity to make her understand what’s happening to the Animals here, then I’m going to try.”

Quiet murmurs of agreement moved around the table.

“Speaking of expanding support,” Elphaba continued, looking toward Fiyero, “there’s something else we wanted to discuss tonight.”

She gave him a small nod.

Fiyero straightened slightly in his chair, leaning forward as the others turned toward him.

“I know we talked about tabling outside Briscoe,” he began, “but I don’t think Shiz is the only place we should be focusing our energy.”

The room quieted further.

“Most of the major universities in Oz are here in Gilikin Country,” he continued. “And some of them aren’t that far from Shiz. I’ve studied at a few of them before coming here, and I still know people there.”

Nyliss’ expression shifted slightly at that.

“If students at one university start speaking up, that’s one thing,” Fiyero said. “But if students across Oz start demanding change at the same time, that becomes a lot harder to ignore.”

He glanced briefly toward Elphaba.

“What if instead of only raising awareness at Shiz, we started building something bigger? A student network across universities.”

The room fell quiet while everyone processed what he’d said.

After a moment, Nyliss leaned forward slightly, stroking his chin.

“Do you really think students at other universities are going to care?”

“Maybe not all of them,” Fiyero replied. “But if even a few do, that’s still more support than we have now.”

Nyliss studied him for a moment before nodding slowly.

“Okay.”

“It’s a good idea,” Ireya said. “But how would we even reach them?”

Fiyero nodded, already expecting the question.

“There’s an academic fundraising gala next weekend,” he explained. “Students and faculty from universities all across Gilikin Country will be there. I’ve attended before. I know the kinds of people who go to these events, and I can get us invitations.”

He glanced around the table as the others listened closely.

“If we can figure out who’s willing to help,” he continued, “then we can start building connections between universities from there.”

He paused briefly.

“But we wouldn’t all be able to go. Too many of us together would attract attention.”

“You should go,” Tieran said after a moment, looking toward Fiyero. “And Elphaba.”

Elphaba blinked.

“Me?”

“I’m not exactly cut out for that kind of environment.”

Fiyero looked directly at her.

“You’re the person they actually need to hear.”

Elphaba held his gaze for a moment before nodding once.

“Okay.”

The meeting continued for a while after that as they discussed possible strategies, exchanging ideas into the evening until Elphaba finally looked up at the clock on the wall.

Ten past eight.

“That’s the hour, guys,” she said. “Let’s call it a night.”

Everyone began gathering papers, pencils, and scattered notes while the desks were gradually pushed back into their usual positions around the classroom.

“I’ll catch up with you later,” Elphaba told Ireya as the others slowly filtered out into the hallway.

Fiyero lingered behind, watching her curiously.

“You’re staying?”

Elphaba nodded.

“If we’re going to start organizing across universities, then we probably need a new banner.”

She gestured toward the rolled canvas and scattered paint supplies stacked near the back of the classroom—things Fiyero somehow hadn’t even noticed before.

He pulled off the jacket he had just slipped on and tossed it over the back of a chair.

“Oh, you don’t have to—” Elphaba started.

“I want to,” Fiyero interrupted gently. “Let me help you.”

She hesitated briefly.

“I’m sure you have somewhere more interesting to be on a Friday night.”

Fiyero smiled slightly.

“I’m exactly where I want to be.”

Elphaba looked at him for a moment, almost as though she wasn’t entirely sure how to respond to that.

Then she smiled.

“Okay,” she said softly, nodding once.

“And besides,” Fiyero added with a grin, “I happen to be an excellent artist.”

Elphaba let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head slightly.

“Oh, is that so?”

“Tragically underappreciated, actually.”

She laughed again.

“Well, I can’t argue with that.”

Together, they carried the rolled canvas across the classroom before spreading it out across the floor near the windows.

Elphaba gathered the brushes and paint jars, setting them carefully around the edges of the banner while Fiyero flattened one of the curling corners with his hand.

“I already traced the letters,” Elphaba explained, pointing toward the outlined words. “We just need to paint them in.”

Fiyero glanced down at the banner.

SHIZ ANIMAL STUDENT UNION.

Simple. Direct. Honest.

Somehow, it felt very her.

They settled onto the floor across from one another, sitting cross-legged on opposite sides of the canvas.

They lifted their paintbrushes and began filling in the letters, the classroom settling into a comfortable quiet around them as the brushes moved across the canvas.

“So you actually are good at this,” Elphaba said after a while, glancing up at the clean lines of the letters he had painted.

Fiyero laughed softly.

“Well, I do enjoy painting,” he admitted, looking over at her. “Mostly landscapes and still life.”

Elphaba raised her brows slightly.

“Really? Is that something you learned at school?”

“It is,” he replied, a small smile forming on his lips. “Actually, it’s probably the only thing at school I was ever good at.”

She looked at him skeptically.

“I have a hard time believing that.”

“Why?”

“Because,” she said, shaking her head slightly, “you don’t seem like someone who wouldn’t do well in school.”

Fiyero smiled crookedly.

“Is that your way of telling me you think I’m brilliant?”

Elphaba laughed softly.

“Well, you are, Fiyero,” she said, looking up at him. “Even if you don’t realize it.”

Something in his expression shifted slightly at that.

He looked back down at the banner, dragging another careful brushstroke through one of the letters.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. “Truthfully, I just never took anything seriously. I thought life would be easier that way.”

Elphaba tilted her head slightly.

“Pretending not to care?”

He nodded once.

“Exactly.”

His gaze lingered on the paintbrush turning slowly between his fingers.

“I had all this pressure growing up,” he continued. “From my family. From the Vinkus. Everyone expected me to become this perfect prince that I never really knew how to be.”

He let out a quiet breath through his nose.

“And when people already think they know who you are, it becomes easy to perform for them instead of actually letting them see you.”

Elphaba watched him quietly.

“So I stopped caring,” he said with a faint shrug. “Or at least pretended to.”

He glanced up at her then, something more serious settling into his expression.

“But I know now that isn’t really living.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Elphaba lowered her gaze back to the banner.

“I know what it’s like to only be seen for one thing,” she said quietly. “I’ve always been… green.”

Fiyero stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.

“And it’s always been treated like something wrong,” she admitted, carefully dragging paint across another letter. “Ever since I was a child.”

She paused briefly.

“Most people don’t look much further than that.”

Fiyero’s expression softened as he watched her.

“But I try not to let it stop me,” Elphaba continued. “I try to focus on things that actually matter. Fighting for the Animals. Doing something useful.”

Fiyero looked at her for a long moment before speaking.

“I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

Elphaba let out a quiet laugh.

“Yeah,” she said dismissively. “Someone green.”

“Someone real.”

The teasing smile faded slightly from her face as she looked back up at him.

“And besides,” Fiyero added lightly, “green happens to be my favorite color.”

A reluctant smile tugged at her lips as she looked back down at her paintbrush.

“And here I was thinking you were more of a blue kind of guy.”

Fiyero laughed softly and shook his head.

“No,” he said. “Definitely green.”

When Elphaba glanced back up, she found him still smiling at her.

A faint flush appeared across her cheeks.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Elphaba squinted down at the banner between them.

“How are you doing this so perfectly?” she asked. “You can’t even see the paint lines on yours.”

Fiyero leaned forward slightly, amused.

“The trick is that you have to stroke upward,” he explained, gesturing toward the brush in her hand.

Elphaba tried again for a moment before frowning.

“I’m still not getting it.”

Fiyero laughed quietly.

“Okay,” he said, setting his brush down. “Here. Let me show you.”

He moved around the edge of the canvas before lowering himself onto the floor just behind her, close enough now that she could feel the warmth of him at her back.

Elphaba stilled slightly when he reached around her to gently guide the hand holding the paintbrush.

Fiyero leaned forward, his lips close enough to her ear that he could feel her breath catch softly.

“You have to do it like this,” he murmured, guiding her hand slowly upward across the canvas.

Elphaba nodded faintly as their hands moved together over the painted letters.

“Like this?” she whispered.

Without seeming to fully realize it, she leaned back slightly against him.

“Mm-hm,” Fiyero replied quietly, his heartbeat quickening at the feeling of her pressed lightly against his chest.

He rested the side of his face briefly against her braids, trying very hard to focus on the banner instead of how impossibly close she suddenly was.

For a moment, he let himself close his eyes.

Then he felt her shift beneath him.

Elphaba turned her head slightly, her face brushing closer to his.

Fiyero’s breath caught.

Slowly, she looked back at him.

Their faces were only inches apart now.

His gaze flicked briefly down to her lips before returning to her eyes.

Neither of them moved.

Then, almost unconsciously, Fiyero leaned closer.

Suddenly, the classroom door creaked open.

Both of them startled apart immediately.

A janitor stepped into the room before pausing awkwardly at the sight of them.

“Sorry to interrupt,” the janitor said, gesturing toward the hallway behind him. “But I need to close the building for the night.”

Elphaba pulled back slightly.

“Right,” she said quickly. “Sorry.”

They watched him disappear into the hallway before the silence settled heavily between them again.

“We should probably clean up,” Elphaba said after a moment, slowly rising to her feet.

“Yeah,” Fiyero replied quietly as he stood.

Together, they lifted the canvas onto a nearby row of desks and gathered the scattered paint jars and brushes in near silence.

Neither of them seemed entirely sure where to look anymore.

Once everything had been put away, they slipped out of Ozma Towers and into the cool night air.

For a while, they walked quietly beside one another beneath the dim courtyard lamp posts.

Fiyero could still feel the ghost of her leaning against him.

Still feel the brush of her braids against his face.

He had no idea what to do with that.

“I can walk you back,” he said finally, glancing over at her.

Elphaba looked up at him as though she wanted to say something.

But after a moment, she only nodded.

They continued toward Crage Hall in silence, their shoulders occasionally brushing as they walked.

When they finally reached the dormitory steps, Elphaba turned toward him.

“Thanks,” she said softly. “For helping tonight.”

Fiyero smiled faintly.

“Yeah,” he replied. “I’m glad I stayed.”

The words seemed to linger between them.

Neither of them moved.

Then Fiyero noticed a faint streak of paint near the edge of her cheek.

“You missed a spot,” he murmured.

Slowly, he lifted his hand and brushed his thumb gently against her skin, wiping the dried paint away.

Neither of them spoke.

His hand lingered for just a second too long before he finally let it fall away.

Elphaba let out a small breath that almost sounded nervous.

“I should probably go,” she said quietly.

Fiyero nodded once.

“Goodnight, Elphaba.”

“Goodnight, Fiyero.”

He watched her disappear through the doors of Crage Hall before finally turning away.

But even as he crossed the courtyard alone, his thoughts kept circling back to her.

To the paint on her hands.

The sound of her laughter.

The way she had leaned into him without even realizing it.

And for the first time in a very long time, Fiyero realized he was beginning to care about something far more dangerous than expectations.

He was beginning to care about her.

* * *

Fiyero slipped quietly into the stables, easing the door shut behind him.

The faint sounds of sleeping horses filled the dim space as he moved carefully between the stalls, trying not to wake them.

Then a twig snapped sharply beneath his boot.

“You never have been particularly discreet.”

Fiyero smiled despite himself and made his way toward Feldspur’s stall, resting a hand affectionately against the Horse’s neck.

“Sorry I’m late,” he whispered. “Want to go for a walk?”

A few minutes later, they wandered slowly through the gardens bordering the edge of the quad beneath the soft glow of the campus lamp posts.

“Did you talk to them about your idea?” Feldspur asked.

Fiyero nodded.

“I did. Well… I talked to Elphaba about it first.” A small smile tugged briefly at the corner of his mouth. “She thought the others would agree.”

“And did they?”

“I think so.”

He glanced over toward Feldspur.

“Have you heard anything from the Animals lately? What are the Horses saying?”

Feldspur grew quieter at that.

“They’re frightened,” he admitted after a moment. “Signs are already going up outside shops and public buildings refusing entry to Animals. Horses need permits now just to travel across certain town borders.”

His jaw tightened slightly.

“And even then, most of those permits are being denied.”

Fiyero listened silently as they continued walking beneath the trees.

“There are rumors spreading through Shiz too,” Feldspur continued. “That Animals won’t be allowed to teach much longer.”

He paused.

“Some think arrests may come next.”

Fiyero looked down at the path beneath his feet, his expression growing heavier.

“Elphaba thinks that if people actually understood how bad things are becoming,” he said slowly, “then maybe they’d finally care enough to do something.”

They stopped beneath the shadow of a large tree near the edge of the gardens.

“We can’t fix everything overnight,” Fiyero continued. “But maybe we can start somewhere. The schools. The students.”

He let out a quiet breath.

“If we can build support across universities, then maybe eventually people won’t be able to ignore this anymore.”

Feldspur studied him curiously.

“You’ve attended these galas before,” he said. “Many times.”

Fiyero nodded once.

“But never like this,” Feldspur continued. “In all the years I’ve known you, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you speak this way about anything.”

Fiyero looked down at the ground with a faint smile.

“I think I’m just tired of pretending,” he admitted quietly.

He paused briefly before continuing.

“Pretending not to care. Pretending injustice doesn’t bother me because it’s easier than actually confronting it.”

His thoughts drifted briefly toward Elphaba again.

“Elphaba said that staying silent when terrible things happen doesn’t make someone neutral,” he said softly. “It just makes them part of the problem.”

He glanced up through the branches overhead.

“I don’t want to be part of the problem anymore.”

Feldspur remained quiet for a moment, studying him carefully.

“This Elphaba seems very wise.”

Fiyero smiled faintly.

“She is,” he said softly. “I’ve never met anyone who speaks the way she does. She believes in what she’s saying even when everyone around her wants her to stay quiet.”

Feldspur watched him for another moment.

“You care about her.”

Fiyero looked over at his oldest friend.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I do.”

Feldspur’s expression softened slightly.

“I never thought I’d see the day.”

Fiyero let out a quiet laugh.

“See what day?”

“The day someone finally mattered to you enough to change you.”

Fiyero fell quiet at that.

Feldspur huffed softly through his nose.

“You’re not nearly as subtle as you think you are.”

Fiyero rolled his eyes, though a reluctant smile still formed on his face.

“Come on,” he said, turning back toward the stables. “It’s getting late.”

They walked slowly back through the gardens together while Fiyero’s thoughts drifted helplessly back toward the classroom.

Their hands moving together across the banner.

The feeling of her breath near his ear when she turned toward him.

The scent of cedarwood tangled faintly through her braids, softened by something floral he still couldn’t quite place.

He replayed the moment over and over despite every attempt not to.

Somewhere deep down, he knew Feldspur was right.

Elphaba had already begun changing him in ways he still didn’t fully understand.

And strangely enough, the thought no longer felt frightening.

It felt inevitable.

Chapter Text

Elphaba arrived ten minutes early.

Light spilled from beneath the study door, and after a brief hesitation, she raised her hand and knocked.

“Elphaba,” Madame Morrible smiled as she opened the door. “Come in.”

Elphaba offered her a nervous smile and stepped into the study.

She still couldn't quite believe that Madame Morrible had selected her for private sorcery lessons. Part of her expected someone to stop her and explain that there had been a mistake.

Morrible closed the door behind her and gestured toward a chair at the round table in the center of the spacious study. Open books and folders were scattered across its surface, and directly in front of the chair sat two stacked books with a single coin resting on top.

“Please, take a seat.”

Elphaba sat down and folded her hands in front of her before looking up at Madame Morrible.

“Thank you, Madame Morrible,” she said. “For this opportunity.”

“Of course, dearie,” Morrible replied as she settled into the chair beside her.

She gestured toward the coin.

“We'll begin with something simple. Try to levitate it.”

Elphaba nodded and stretched out her hand toward the coin, concentrating.

Nothing happened.

She tried again.

The coin remained stubbornly still.

After a moment, she let out a frustrated breath and lowered her hand.

“That’s quite all right,” Morrible said. “These things take time.”

Elphaba nodded, though she couldn't hide her disappointment.

“I've heard quite a lot about you, Elphaba,” Morrible continued, leaning back slightly. “Dr. Dillamond speaks very highly of you. And of your student organization.”

Elphaba shifted in her seat.

“I actually wanted to ask you about that,” she said. “Dr. Dillamond mentioned that you joined the oversight board.”

“Yes,” Morrible said with a small smile. “A recent development.”

“It’s just...” Elphaba hesitated. “The situation for the Animals keeps getting worse.”

Morrible remained silent, allowing her to continue.

“They deserve the same rights as anyone else,” Elphaba said, her brow furrowing. “They're losing jobs. They're being pushed out of schools. And nobody seems willing to do anything about it.”

The lamp hanging above the table rattled softly.

Morrible's eyes flicked upward.

“And how does that make you feel?” she asked.

Elphaba frowned.

“It makes me angry.”

The books on the table trembled slightly.

“It isn't fair,” she continued, her voice growing stronger. “They're being treated as though they matter less simply because they're Animals.”

The windows shivered in their frames.

“And we just keep letting it happen.”

The room shook.

“We have to do something!”

She slammed both hands onto the table.

The coin shot into the air and flew across the room, crashing into a nearby clock. Glass shattered.

For a brief moment, the coin remained suspended in midair.

Then it dropped to the floor.

Silence filled the study.

Elphaba stared at the broken clock.

Slowly, she turned back toward Morrible.

“I'm sorry,” she said quickly.

“Sorry?”

Morrible looked almost delighted.

“Extraordinary,” she breathed.

Elphaba blinked.

“Do you realize what you just did?”

“I broke your clock.”

“You moved the coin.”

Morrible rose from her chair and crossed the room, examining the shattered glass with fascination rather than irritation.

“Most students spend years trying to produce even the smallest magical reaction.”

She turned back toward Elphaba.

“You did it instinctively.”

Elphaba looked down at her hands.

“I wasn't trying to.”

“Exactly.”

Something unreadable flashed briefly across Morrible's face.

“The magic is already there. We simply need to teach you how to control it.”

Elphaba looked back up.

“And once I learn?”

Morrible smiled.

“Once you learn, there is very little in Oz that will be beyond your reach.”

A flicker of excitement stirred in Elphaba's chest.

“As for the oversight board,” Morrible continued, returning to her seat, “change rarely happens as quickly as we'd like.”

Some of the excitement faded.

“But I joined because I believe these concerns deserve to be taken seriously.”

She held Elphaba's gaze.

“And I intend to make sure they are heard.”

Elphaba nodded.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. 

For the first time in a long while, she left the study feeling hopeful.

* * *

Elphaba spent most of her Linguifications class staring at the same page.

When she wasn't thinking about what Madame Morrible had said, her thoughts drifted stubbornly toward a certain pair of ocean blue eyes.

To the feel of his hand against her cheek.

To the warmth of his chest at her back.

To the way he tilted his head when he smiled, and the stubborn curl that always seemed to fall across his forehead.

The bell rang suddenly, startling her from her thoughts.

Elphaba blinked and looked down at the untouched page in front of her before hurriedly gathering her books.

She really needed to stop thinking about Fiyero.

Because surely he wasn't spending his classes thinking about her.

Was he?

She slipped out of the classroom as students flooded into the hallway around her.

For a moment, all she could see was a blur of uniforms, books, and moving bodies.

Then the crowd began to thin.

And there he was.

Leaning casually against a row of lockers with his hands in his pockets, as though he'd been waiting there all along.

A smile appeared on his face the moment their eyes met, and Elphaba felt her heart give an unexpected flutter as she made her way toward him.

“If I didn’t know any better,” she said as she approached, “I’d think you were waiting for me.”

Fiyero laughed softly.

“What gave it away?”

Before she could answer, he reached for the books in her arms.

“Let me take those.”

Elphaba instinctively pulled them closer to her chest.

“I can carry my own books, Fiyero.”

“I know.”

He took half of them anyway.

Elphaba shook her head, unable to suppress a small smile.

Was he this attentive with everyone?

Fiyero fell into step beside her as they made their way toward the classroom where the others were already gathering.

“How was your lesson with Madame Morrible?”

“Good,” Elphaba said. Then, after a moment, “Actually… really good.”

Fiyero glanced over at her.

“Yeah?”

She nodded.

“I think she genuinely wants to help the Animals. And she said that once I learn to control my magic, I could use it to make a real difference.”

The thought still felt strange every time she said it aloud.

She let out a small laugh.

“Although I may have shattered her clock trying to levitate a coin.”

Fiyero laughed.

“That’s impressive.”

“That wasn’t the intended outcome.”

“Maybe not,” he said. “But it sounds memorable.”

Elphaba rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t help smiling.

“Sometimes I can be a little too intense.”

Fiyero looked over at her, tilting his head slightly.

“That’s one of my favorite things about you.”

For a moment, Elphaba could only stare at him.

His gaze held hers.

“Just one of them,” he added.

Heat immediately rushed to her cheeks.

She looked away before he could notice.

Or before he could notice how much she hoped he meant it.

Thankfully, they reached the classroom before she had to think of a response.

Fiyero smiled to himself and pushed open the door.

“Come on,” he said. “Let’s get started.”

They stepped into the classroom, where Boq and Ireya were already seated around the makeshift table, reviewing notes ahead of the five o'clock meeting.

As they greeted the others, Fiyero set Elphaba's books down beside her seat. Then he opened the folder he'd been carrying and pulled out a thick stack of papers, dropping them onto the table.

Elphaba raised a brow.

“What’s all that?”

“Research.”

“Research?”

“Try not to sound so surprised.”

Elphaba slid into her chair with a curious smile.

“Sorry. I forgot you were secretly scholarly.”

“Secretly?”

Before she could answer, Nyliss and Tieran arrived and took their seats around the table.

Once everyone had settled, Fiyero gathered the papers and leaned forward.

“I got us invitations.”

He placed two cream-colored invitations on the table.

The Gilikin Academic Advancement Gala.

One bore his name.

The other bore Elphaba's.

Quiet murmurs spread around the table.

Then Fiyero reached for another sheet.

And another.

And another.

A guest list covered in circles and notes.

 Universities grouped together on a separate page. 

Names marked with Xs. 

Handwritten comments filling the margins.

The room grew noticeably quieter.

Nyliss stared at the papers.

Tieran stared at the papers.

Even Elphaba found herself staring.

She hadn't expected him to come this prepared.

“Officially,” Fiyero said, tapping a name on the guest list, “it's a fundraiser for scholarships and research programs.”

His finger moved farther down the page.

“Unofficially, it's where every dean, student leader, donor, and aspiring politician in Gilikin Country spends an evening pretending they aren't networking.”

A few people laughed. Fiyero grinned before continuing.

“We don't need to talk to two hundred people.”

He pointed to eight circled names.

“We only need these ones.”

The group leaned forward.

“This one edits the Uptown Chronicle at Gladstone,” he said. “If she writes about what's happening to the Animals, every student on campus will read it.”

His finger slid to another name.

“This one runs student government at Gillikin Academy.”

Then another.

“She organizes debates at Kiltoon College. If we can get her talking about Animal rights, the conversation spreads.”

Finally, he tapped a name marked with a large X.

“We avoid this one. His father sits on the governor's council.”

Elphaba watched him as he spoke.

Not the papers.

Him.

The confidence in his voice.

The careful thought behind every name.

The way he had taken an idea she'd mentioned and transformed it into an actual plan.

This wasn't the carefree prince who spent lectures daydreaming by the window.

This was someone thoughtful. 

Someone capable.

Someone who had quietly spent days figuring out how to help.

Warmth spread through her chest.

And when he glanced up and caught her looking at him, the smile he gave her made it very difficult to remember what the meeting was supposed to be about.

Fiyero looked around at the group.

“If we can get support at enough universities—”

“Then it stops being a Shiz problem,” Elphaba said.

“And becomes an Oz problem,” Fiyero finished.

For a moment, they simply looked at each other.

Across the table, Boq and Ireya exchanged a knowing glance.

“Okay,” Nyliss said, nodding slowly. “This can work.”

The group spent the next half hour refining their strategy for the gala, discussing who they should approach and what message they wanted to bring to the other universities.

Eventually, the meeting came to an end.

Fiyero gathered the papers into his folder before glancing toward the clock.

“I have an archery lesson in five minutes,” he said, turning to Elphaba. “So I should probably run.”

Elphaba nodded.

Then, without thinking, she reached up and brushed the loose curl back from his forehead.

The moment her fingers touched his hair, she froze.

What am I doing?

For a second, neither of them moved.

Something softened in Fiyero's expression. Then he smiled.

“Thanks,” he said quietly.

His hand came to rest briefly on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“I'll see you later.”

Before Elphaba could think of a response, he turned and waved goodbye to the rest of the group.

Then he was gone.

The classroom door swung shut behind him.

Elphaba stared at it for a moment longer than was probably reasonable.

When she finally turned around, she found Boq watching her with an expression that immediately made her suspicious.

Determined to ignore it, she bent down and began gathering the remaining papers.

“I wasn't expecting all of that,” she said. “But it's a really good plan.”

“It is,” Boq agreed.

Elphaba nodded.

“And it makes sense for us to go together.”

Boq's smile widened.

“That's not what I meant.”

Elphaba paused.

Slowly, she looked up.

“Boq.”

“Elphaba.”

“Don't.”

“I'm just saying,” Boq replied, lifting his hands innocently. “Most people don't casually fix someone else's hair in the middle of a student union meeting.”

Color rose to Elphaba’s cheeks. 

“I wasn't fixing his hair.”

“Right.”

“I wasn't.”

“Of course not.”

Elphaba groaned.

Boq laughed.

Then his expression softened slightly.

“You know everyone can see what's happening between you two, right?”

“What?” Elphaba's head snapped up. “I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.”

“Sure.”

Boq nodded slowly.

“If that's what we're calling it.”

Before she could argue further, he grabbed his bag and headed toward the door.

“I'll see you later, Elphaba.”

She watched him disappear into the hallway before letting out a frustrated sigh.

Maybe it was time to admit to herself that she did, in fact, have feelings for Fiyero.

The problem was that admitting it didn't make it any easier to believe he could possibly feel the same way.

Elphaba gathered the last of the papers and tucked them under her arm before heading into the hallway.

The gala was only a few days away.

And suddenly, a far more pressing problem occurred to her.

What on earth was she supposed to wear?

There was only one person she could think of who might know the answer.

* * *

Elphaba sat at her desk, working through the Linguifications assignment she hadn't managed to finish in class.

Galinda hadn't returned to the dorm yet, and for perhaps the first time since arriving at Shiz, Elphaba found herself genuinely looking forward to seeing her roommate.

After a few minutes, she heard the key turn in the lock.

Elphaba let out a slow breath.

She still wasn't entirely sure how she was going to ask for help with this. But she couldn't think of anyone else who would know what one was supposed to wear to a gala.

“Hey, Elphaba,” Galinda said as she stepped into the room, setting her books down on her desk.

“Hey, Galinda.”

Galinda dropped onto her bed and immediately began pulling off her shoes.

“Can you believe they moved History of Oz from Briscoe Hall to Ozma Towers?”

Elphaba looked up from her assignment.

“Why does that matter?”

“Because now I have to walk across half the campus.”

“It's seven minutes.”

Galinda looked horrified.

“In heels, Elphaba.”

A smile tugged at Elphaba's lips as Galinda reached for a copy of Ozmopolitan from her bedside table.

She flipped it open.

Elphaba cleared her throat.

“Galinda?”

“Yes?”

“Can I ask you something?”

Galinda lowered the magazine and narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“That's never a good sign.”

Elphaba laughed softly.

“Well... it's about a dress.”

Galinda sat bolt upright.

“A dress?”

“I need one.”

The magazine immediately hit the bed.

“Oh, thank Oz.”

Elphaba blinked.

“What?”

“A problem I can actually solve.”

Galinda jumped to her feet and crossed the room to her closet.

“I have every kind of dress you could possibly need.”

She threw open the doors dramatically.

“What’s the occasion?”

“It's for a gala.”

Galinda nodded.

“Okay.”

“With Fiyero.”

Galinda froze.

Elphaba immediately regretted saying that part.

“Not like that,” she added quickly. “We're going together because of the student union. It's school-related.”

Galinda slowly turned around.

“So... you and Fiyero?”

“What?”

“Oh, so that's a yes.”

“Galinda.”

“Elphaba.”

“There's no 'me and Fiyero.'”

Galinda folded her arms.

“Elphaba, half the campus has seen the way he looks at you.”

Elphaba looked away, focusing very hard on the dresses hanging in the closet.

“That's ridiculous.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

Galinda's expression suggested she did not find that argument particularly convincing.

Thankfully, she returned her attention to the closet.

“Let's focus on the important thing.”

“The gala?”

“The dress.”

Elphaba rolled her eyes but followed her over.

Galinda immediately pulled out two gowns covered in sequins, ruffles, and what appeared to be an alarming amount of feathers.

“How about one of these?”

“Absolutely not.”

“What's wrong with them?”

“I look like I'd be attending a coronation.”

Galinda looked offended.

“You say that like it's a bad thing.”

“It is.”

With a dramatic sigh, Galinda shoved both dresses back into the closet.

She continued digging through the racks.

Then suddenly stopped.

“Oh.”

Elphaba looked over.

Galinda was smiling.

“This is the one.”

She carefully pulled out a sleek black gown.

The satin caught the light as she held it up.

Elphaba stared at it.

It was elegant.

Simple.

Nothing like the dresses Galinda had shown her before.

“Okay,” Elphaba said slowly. “I'll try it on.”

A few minutes later, she stepped out from behind the privacy screen.

Galinda gasped.

“Elphaba.”

Elphaba crossed the room and stopped in front of the mirror.

The dress was simple, at least by Galinda's standards.

Black satin skimmed her figure before falling to the floor in a clean, elegant line. The neckline draped softly across her collarbones, and when she turned, she discovered the back dipped far lower than she had expected, the fabric cascading in gentle folds between her shoulders.

It wasn't covered in jewels or embroidery.

It didn't need to be.

Somehow, it felt more like her than any of the other dresses Galinda had shown her.

“Elphaba,” Galinda said softly, stepping beside her. “Fiyero's jaw is going to drop when he sees you in this.”

Elphaba stared at her reflection.

Then glanced toward Galinda.

“Do you really think so?” she asked quietly.

Galinda's expression softened.

“Think what?”

Elphaba hesitated.

“That he'll notice.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Galinda smiled.

“Elphaba,” she said, “the boy has been finding excuses to wait outside your classes.”

Elphaba felt her face grow warm.

“I don't think—”

“Yes, you do.”

Galinda met her eyes in the mirror.

“Trust me. He's going to notice.”

A small smile appeared on Elphaba's face before she could stop it.

“Thank you, Galinda.”

Galinda grinned.

“Oh, we're not done yet.”

Before Elphaba could react, Galinda spun around and marched toward the other side of the closet.

She threw open another set of doors, revealing an astonishing collection of shoes.

“I have the perfect pair in mind.”

Elphaba laughed as Galinda immediately began pulling boxes from the shelves.

And as she looked once more at her reflection in the mirror, she found herself thinking about the gala.

About seeing Fiyero.

And, for once, she allowed herself to feel excited about it.

* * *

The days leading up to the gala passed in a whirlwind of classes, flyers, and last-minute preparations.

Every free moment seemed to be consumed by planning.

Somehow, despite everything else demanding her attention, Elphaba found herself thinking about the gala far more often than she cared to admit.

On Friday afternoon, she sat in the library with Boq and Nessa, reviewing her talking points while Boq attempted to help Nessa prepare for an upcoming assignment.

“Boq, you've explained it three times already.”

Nessa looked down at her textbook in frustration.

“And I'll explain it a fourth.”

Elphaba smiled faintly and returned her attention to her notes.

A moment later, she felt a familiar presence beside her.

Looking up, she found Fiyero pulling out the chair next to hers.

“Hey,” he said, smiling as he sat down.

“Hey.”

She smiled back automatically.

Their eyes met for a moment before she glanced away.

Across the table, Nessa was watching her.

Beside her, Boq was trying—and failing—not to look amused.

Elphaba chose to ignore both of them and returned her attention to the papers in front of her.

Just then, Galinda walked past with Pfannee and Shenshen, laughing about something as they made their way through the library.

Normally, Elphaba would have rolled her eyes.

Instead, she looked up.

Galinda looked over at the same moment.

Their eyes met.

Elphaba smiled and gave a small nod.

Galinda smiled back before continuing on her way.

“What are you working on?”

Elphaba looked over to find Fiyero leaning toward her notes.

“Talking points for the gala,” she said. “I wanted to—”

“Look. It's the prince and the frog.”

Elphaba froze.

The familiar sting settled immediately in her chest, but she didn't turn her head.

A few students nearby snickered.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Fiyero's expression change.

“Maybe he thinks if he kisses her, she'll turn into a princess.”

The laughter grew louder.

Fiyero's chair scraped sharply against the floor.

He was already opening his mouth when another voice spoke first.

“Actually.”

The laughter died immediately.

Galinda turned around.

“Jealousy is a really ugly color.”

The girl blinked.

Galinda smiled sweetly.

“Though you certainly wear it well.”

Several students laughed.

The girl's face immediately reddened.

Galinda tilted her head.

“Personally,” she said, “I think Fiyero spends time with Elphaba because he has good taste.”

The library fell silent.

Elphaba stared at her in disbelief.

Across the table, Fiyero looked openly impressed.

Galinda, meanwhile, appeared completely unbothered by the fact that half the room was staring at her.

She turned and started walking toward their table.

“Galinda?” Pfannee called after her, his mouth falling open.

“What?” she asked, glancing back over her shoulder.

Pfannee gestured helplessly toward the table.

Galinda blinked.

“Oh, I was already coming over here.”

She reached the table and pulled out the empty chair beside Boq.

“Is it alright if I join you?”

For a moment, nobody answered.

Then Boq grinned.

“Sure.”

Galinda sat down.

Across the table, Nessa still looked surprised.

Elphaba wasn't entirely certain what to say.

Fiyero simply leaned back in his chair, looking far too pleased with the situation.

Galinda glanced around the table.

“What?”

Boq laughed.

Elphaba felt herself smile.

And for the first time, the group gathered around the table felt less like a collection of classmates and more like something else entirely.

* * *

The following evening arrived far more quickly than Elphaba would have liked.

One moment she had been reviewing gala notes after breakfast, and the next Galinda was shooing her away from her desk and insisting she sit still while she fixed her hair.

Her braids had been gathered into an elegant updo at the back of her head, pinned neatly in place while a few loose curls framed her face. It was far more sophisticated than anything Elphaba would have attempted on her own.

A knock sounded at the door.

Galinda's face lit up immediately.

"That's him."

She hurried to the door and pulled it open.

“Right on time.”

Fiyero laughed.

“Am I?”

“No,” Galinda said. “But it sounds impressive.”

She looked over her shoulder before turning back to him, a wide grin spreading across her face.

“Here she is.”

Stepping aside, she revealed Elphaba standing behind her.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Fiyero stood before her wearing a fitted midnight-blue dress coat embroidered with gold thread. It looked every bit the attire of a prince, though somehow he managed to wear it with the same effortless ease he brought to everything else.

Elphaba's breath caught.

She had never seen him dressed like this before.

“Wow,” Fiyero finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

A nervous smile appeared on Elphaba's face.

“Wow?”

“You look...” He paused. “Um... you look...”

Galinda sighed dramatically.

“I think he's trying to say you look beautiful.”

“Yeah.”

A slow smile spread across Fiyero's face.

“That's exactly what I was trying to say.”

A blush immediately crept across Elphaba’s face.

She looked down for a moment before glancing back up at him.

“Well,” Galinda said, looking between them, “this is becoming embarrassing.”

“What is?”

“The fact that neither of you can stop staring at the other.”

Both of them laughed softly.

Galinda picked up Elphaba's cloak and draped it over her arm.

“Have fun,” she said, pulling Elphaba into a quick hug.

Then she pointed a finger at Fiyero.

“And you, take good care of her.”

Fiyero smiled.

“I will.”

Apparently satisfied with that answer, Galinda stepped back into the room.

“Try not to be boring,” she called as she closed the door behind her.

The hallway fell quiet.

Fiyero took the cloak from Elphaba and carefully settled it around her shoulders.

His hands lingered there for a moment longer than necessary.

Neither of them seemed particularly eager to point that out.

Then he held out his arm.

“Shall we?”

Elphaba hesitated only a moment before slipping her hand through the crook of his elbow.

Together, they made their way across the quad toward the waiting carriage.

Elphaba concentrated very hard on not tripping in the heels Galinda had lent her.

“Are you alright?” Fiyero asked softly.

“I guess you can tell I'm not very good at this.”

“At what?”

She gestured vaguely at herself.

“The gala. The dress. The heels.”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“I think you're doing perfectly.”

His gaze met hers.

“Truly.”

Elphaba felt herself smile despite her nerves.

The driver opened the carriage door as they approached.

Fiyero offered her his hand and helped her climb inside before settling into the seat next to her.

As the carriage pulled away from Shiz, her nerves began creeping back in.

She thought about the words she had rehearsed over and over.

She thought about the stares she would inevitably receive.

She wondered whether she would make it through the evening without saying something foolish.

And despite everything else she should have been worrying about, she found herself wondering what Fiyero had really thought when he looked at her tonight.

She didn't realize how tightly she had been twisting her fingers together until Fiyero reached over and took one of her hands.

“Hey.”

His voice was soft.

“You've got this.”

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

Something about the warmth of his hand in hers eased the knot that had been tightening in her chest all evening.

Elphaba squeezed his hand back.

Slowly, his fingers intertwined with hers.

A pleasant shiver ran through her.

Neither of them said anything more.

They simply sat together as the carriage rolled through the evening streets, Elphaba watching the lights of Gillikin Country pass beyond the window.

It wasn't until the carriage began to slow that she realized they were still holding hands.

Neither of them had let go.

The carriage came to a stop outside the Gilikin Grand Conservatory.

The driver opened the door.

Reluctantly, Fiyero released her hand and stepped down first before turning back to offer her his arm once more.

Elphaba took it and drew in a slow breath.

Then together they walked toward the conservatory and the evening waiting beyond its doors.

The moment they stepped inside, Elphaba nearly stopped walking.

Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead while a string quartet played softly from a raised platform near the far wall.

Faculty members, student leaders, and donors drifted through the room in elegant gowns and tailored suits while servers wove between them carrying trays of drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

Elphaba swallowed.

Suddenly, the conservatory felt much larger than it had from the outside.

Beside her, Fiyero removed her cloak and handed it to an attendant.

“It's alright.”

She looked up at him.

“You've already survived Galinda's heels.”

Elphaba let out a small laugh.

“That's your encouragement?”

“I'm working with what I've got.”

Despite herself, she smiled.

Some of the tension eased from her shoulders as he guided her farther into the room.

“Fiyero!”

They both turned.

A brunette about their age was making her way toward them, a bright smile already forming on her face.

“Tilesa,” Fiyero said, smiling. “Hi.”

“Well, if it isn't my favorite Winkie prince.”

“I didn't realize I was competing for the title.”

Tilesa laughed.

“I wasn't expecting to see you here.”

“Oh, you know me,” Fiyero said. “I can't seem to stay away from these things.”

She laughed again.

Somehow, Elphaba felt herself shrinking a little farther into the background.

Tilesa was beautiful.

Confident.

Effortlessly comfortable in a room like this.

The sort of person who looked as though she belonged here.

Fiyero stepped slightly closer to Elphaba.

“This is Elphaba,” he said. “My brilliant classmate from Shiz.”

Tilesa's eyes widened.

“Oh.”

Then she smiled.

“It's nice to meet you.”

“You too,” Elphaba replied.

“Tilesa and I went to Kiltoon together,” Fiyero explained.

Elphaba nodded.

She couldn't help wondering whether Tilesa was someone he had once dated.

Someone who would have looked entirely natural standing beside him.

Someone who didn't have to think twice about belonging in a room like this.

As if sensing her discomfort, Fiyero rested a hand lightly against the small of her back.

The gesture was subtle.

Comforting.

Grounding.

And somehow it made the room feel a little less overwhelming.

“Well,” Tilesa said after a moment, smiling between them, “I'll let you two get settled.”

“It was good seeing you,” Fiyero said.

“You too.”

Tilesa gave them one last smile before disappearing back into the crowd.

For a moment, Elphaba watched her go.

Then she felt Fiyero's hand still resting against her back.

Steady.

Certain.

As though there was nowhere else he'd rather be.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of metal tapping against a glass.

The room gradually fell quiet.

“Thank you all for joining us this evening,” a woman in a long gold gown said from the front of the room. “Education and research are the foundation of our universities, and tonight we gather not only to celebrate what has been achieved, but to ensure that future generations have the resources they need to succeed. The future of Oz is in your hands. Here's to a better tomorrow.”

She raised her glass.

Around the room, guests did the same before the sound of clinking crystal filled the air.

Then the room dissolved back into conversation.

Elphaba met Fiyero's gaze and nodded.

It was time to put their plan into action.

They moved through the crowd, scanning the room as they went.

“There,” Fiyero said, nodding toward a small group of students.

To Elphaba's surprise, convincing Billina Rost, editor of the Uptown Chronicle, took less than five minutes.

By the time they finished explaining what was happening to the Animals, Billina was already scribbling notes.

"I knew there had been complaints, but I had no idea it had gotten this bad."

She looked back up.

"People deserve to know about this."

But it wasn't until they met Professor Alden Shrove that Elphaba felt as though she was truly being tested.

“Students are always passionate about causes,” he said, regarding them thoughtfully. “But passion and policy are rarely the same thing.”

“Respectfully,” Elphaba replied, “that's exactly why we're here. If students are concerned about something happening across Oz, shouldn't educational institutions be willing to discuss it?”

Professor Shrove folded his hands behind his back.

“I've watched students try to change Oz for thirty years,” he said. “Most of them disappear the moment things become difficult.”

"Then perhaps the problem isn't that students care too much," Elphaba said. "Perhaps it's that they're too often told nothing can change."

She paused.

“Universities are supposed to prepare students to shape the future,” she continued steadily. “What lesson are we teaching if we ignore injustice simply because discussing it is inconvenient?”

For a moment, Professor Shrove said nothing.

Beside her, Elphaba could feel Fiyero watching.

Then the professor smiled.

“You make a compelling argument.”

He looked between the two of them before giving a slow nod.

“Very well. You may come speak with the student government at Gilikin Academy.”

A rush of excitement swept through Elphaba.

For once, someone wasn't dismissing her concerns.

Someone was listening.

Then Professor Shrove turned to Fiyero.

“Make sure you bring her with you.”

Fiyero laughed.

“That was always the plan.”

The next hour passed in a blur of introductions and conversations.

Not everyone agreed with them.

Not everyone wanted to get involved.

But some did.

By the end of the evening, they had secured invitations to speak at three universities and promises from several student leaders to continue the conversation.

It was only the beginning.

But it was a beginning.

Elphaba felt lighter than she had in weeks.

When she looked over, she found Fiyero already watching her.

A grin spread across his face.

She couldn't help smiling back.

They really did make a good team.

Perhaps in more ways than she was ready to admit.

* * *

“Fiyero, where are we going?”

Elphaba laughed as he led her up another flight of stairs, away from the bustling guests in the main hall of the conservatory.

“I want to show you something,” he said, grinning. “We're almost there.”

“We'd better be, because I'm not sure I can manage any more stairs in these heels.”

He laughed as they reached a glass door at the top of the staircase. Taking her hand, he pushed through it.

“Here we are.”

Elphaba gasped.

The rooftop overlooked the vast landscape of Gillikin Country, thousands of lights glittering in the darkness below like scattered stars.

They walked toward the railing, their fingers still loosely intertwined.

Elphaba leaned against the stone railing, smiling as she took in the view.

Fiyero never took his eyes off her.

“You were incredible tonight,” he said, looking at her with quiet admiration.

Elphaba looked up and smiled.

“We were,” she corrected. “I still can't believe we actually did it. Your plan worked.”

“It only worked because of you.”

She shook her head.

“Fiyero—”

“I'm serious.”

His expression softened.

“You heard Professor Shrove. We're not getting into that school unless you're there.”

Elphaba laughed and looked away, warmth rising into her cheeks.

Turning back toward the view, she rested her arms on the railing.

“We have a chance to make a real difference,” she said quietly.

“We do.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then she felt Fiyero step closer behind her.

His arms slipped gently around her waist.

Elphaba stilled.

Her heartbeat quickened.

After a moment, she relaxed and leaned back against him.

His arms tightened slightly.

“You're almost as tall as me now,” he murmured into her hair.

Elphaba laughed.

“I'm not even close.”

“The heels beg to differ.”

“I’m a Munchkin, remember?”

“Tall Munchkin.”

She laughed again.

The sound faded into the quiet night air.

Then she felt his lips brush lightly against her temple.

Her breath caught.

She had never been this close to anyone before.

Never wanted to stay this close.

Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to simply exist in the moment.

His arms around her waist.

The warmth of his chest against her back.

His steady heartbeat.

The feeling of being safe.

“This is beautiful,” she said softly, gesturing to the lights.

“You're beautiful.”

Elphaba froze.

Then she laughed quietly and shook her head.

“You don't have to lie to me.”

Fiyero immediately loosened his hold and gently turned her toward him.

“Look at me.”

Elphaba hesitated.

Then slowly lifted her eyes to his.

“It’s not lying,” he said softly.

His fingers brushed her cheek.

“You are truly beautiful.”

Something in his expression made it impossible to look away.

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to one cheek.

Then the other.

Elphaba's heart pounded.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“What I've been wanting to do for a while now.”

His hand remained lightly against her face.

Giving her every opportunity to move away.

She didn't.

He leaned down and his lips met hers.

For a moment, Elphaba forgot how to breathe.

The world seemed to disappear around them.

There was no conservatory.

No gala.

No expectations.

Only Fiyero.

She kissed him back.

Tentatively at first.

Then with growing certainty.

One of his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss.

Warmth flooded through her chest.

And suddenly it was too much.

The success of the evening.

The feeling of his arms around her.

The way he looked at her.

The fact that someone like Fiyero was kissing her as though she was the most important person in the world.

Elphaba pulled back.

Her breathing uneven.

Fiyero immediately stepped back.

“I'm sorry,” he said quickly. “I thought—”

“No.”

She shook her head.

“No, that's not—”

She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to slow her racing heart.

“I wanted that.”

Relief flickered across his face.

“Then what's wrong?”

Elphaba looked away.

How was she supposed to explain this?

“I just...” She laughed nervously. “I think tonight has been the best night of my life.”

Fiyero's expression softened.

“And that's a problem?”

“A little.”

He tilted his head slightly.

Elphaba shook her head.

“You don't understand.”

“Then explain it to me.”

She looked down at her hands.

“People don't usually look at me the way you do.”

Silence.

“When I walk into a room, people stare because I'm green.”

Her voice had become quieter now.

“Tonight people listened to me.”

She swallowed.

“Galinda helped me get ready.”

A small laugh escaped her.

“Someone actually thought my ideas were worth hearing.”

Then she looked up at him.

“And now you're standing here telling me I'm beautiful.”

Her eyes shone in the moonlight.

“It just feels a little impossible.”

Fiyero was quiet for several seconds.

Then he stepped closer.

“Elphaba.”

She met his gaze.

“None of that is impossible.”

His hand found hers once more.

“It's just true.”

For a moment, Elphaba simply stared at him.

Part of her wanted to argue.

To tell him he was wrong.

That he didn't see what everyone else saw.

But she couldn't.

Not when he was looking at her like that.

Not when he had spent the entire evening proving otherwise.

A reluctant smile appeared on her face.

Fiyero smiled back.

Slowly, he reached up and brushed a loose curl away from her face.

“Elphaba?”

“Yes?”

“You know I'm going to keep telling you you're beautiful, right?”

A laugh escaped her.

“That's going to get very annoying.”

“Good.”

She shook her head.

Then, before she could lose her nerve, she stepped forward and kissed him.

This time, there was no hesitation.

No doubt.

Just the quiet certainty of knowing she wanted to be there.

When they finally pulled apart, neither of them moved very far.

The lights of Gillikin Country glittered below them.

For the first time in a long time, the future felt a little less frightening.

And standing there beside Fiyero, Elphaba found herself believing that perhaps impossible things weren't so impossible after all.

Chapter Text

Elphaba's eyes slowly fluttered open as sunlight filtered through the blinds.

Despite getting back to Crage Hall late the night before, it had been the best sleep she'd had in weeks.

And she knew exactly why.

A smile spread across her face as memories of the gala drifted back to her.

The rooftop.

The lights of Gillikin Country stretching endlessly beneath them.

The way his lips had felt when they had kissed for the very first time.

And then the carriage ride home.

The way she had run her fingers through his hair when he kissed her again.

The way they had lingered outside her dorm far longer than either of them should have before she had finally slipped inside.

She touched her fingers lightly to her lips and closed her eyes. She could still remember how soft his lips had been.

A contented sigh escaped her as she hugged her pillow to her chest.

Did that really happen?

A quiet laugh slipped from her.

Of course it had.

The question was what happened now.

She rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling.

Were they officially together?

Was she supposed to do something different now?

She had absolutely no idea.

But she did know one thing.

There was no one she wanted to see more than Fiyero.

Her gaze shifted toward the clock on the bedside table.

Ten past nine.

They had agreed to meet for breakfast at ten.

Immediately, her stomach fluttered.

She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed just as Galinda began to stir. A moment later, her roommate rolled over and looked at her.

Then she smiled.

“Well, someone’s in a good mood today.”

Elphaba laughed softly.

“Good morning, Galinda.”

Galinda sat up and narrowed her eyes.

“Oh no.”

“What?”

“That smile.”

Galinda pointed accusingly at her.

“That is not your normal smile.”

Before Elphaba could protest, Galinda hopped out of bed, crossed the room, and dropped onto the mattress beside her.

“So,” she said excitedly. “How was it?”

Elphaba looked down at her hands.

“Well…”

A smile pulled at her lips despite herself.

“We kissed.”

Galinda let out a squeal.

“And it was nice.”

Elphaba barely got the last part out before Galinda threw her arms around her.

“Oh, Elphie!”

Elphaba laughed.

“Can I call you Elphie?” Galinda asked, pulling back just enough to look at her.

“Well, it's a little perk—”

“Wonderful,” Galinda said immediately, hugging her again.

“I’m just so happy for you.”

Elphaba returned the hug, shaking her head fondly.

When Galinda finally released her, Elphaba looked down at the blanket gathered in her lap.

“You know,” she said quietly, “I still don't really understand why he likes me.”

Galinda stared at her.

Then she shook her head.

“Elphaba, have you met yourself?”

A surprised laugh escaped her.

Maybe Galinda had a point.

Or maybe she was just being nice.

“When do you see him again?” Galinda asked.

“We're meeting for breakfast at ten.”

Galinda gasped dramatically.

“Ten?”

Elphaba glanced at the clock.

“Yes.”

“Well, we don't have much time.”

Elphaba immediately frowned.

“Time for what?”

Galinda stood up.

“To get you ready to see Fiyero, obviously.”

“Galinda, I don't need help getting ready.”

“Don't be ridiculous, Elphie. I have exactly the thing.”

She hurried toward her closet and immediately began rummaging through it.

Elphaba laughed and shook her head.

As Galinda disappeared into a sea of dresses, Elphaba found herself smiling once more.

In less than an hour, she would see Fiyero.

And that made the morning seem so much brighter.

* * *

Elphaba walked briskly toward the dining hall, her heart seeming to beat faster with every step.

She wondered if Fiyero felt as nervous as she did.

It wasn't as though this was the first time she had seen him. They had spent countless hours together.

But everything was different now.

She glanced down at her outfit.

In the end, she'd chosen to wear her own clothes—a simple gray sweater layered over a white button-down and a black pleated skirt. Nothing particularly special.

She hoped it had been the right choice.

As she reached the doors of the dining hall, she paused for a moment and took a deep breath before pushing them open.

The hall was quieter than usual on a Sunday morning, with students scattered throughout the room.

She spotted Fiyero immediately.

He was sitting at a table near the wall, and the moment he saw her, he stood. A grin spread across his face as he made his way toward her, and Elphaba felt her stomach flip.

She tried to remain calm and offered him a smile as he approached.

“Hey.”

His eyes seemed to light up.

Before she could answer, he leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her lips as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Elphaba felt her face grow hot.

People were staring.

Fiyero didn't seem to notice.

Or care.

“I'm sitting over there,” he said, gesturing toward their table as he took her hand. “I already grabbed us a few things from the hot line.”

Elphaba smiled and nodded, letting him lead her across the room.

“Did he really just kiss her?”

The whisper drifted from a nearby table.

“She’s only with him because he’s a prince.”

Elphaba felt the sting but kept walking.

Then another voice spoke.

“Is he seriously with the green girl?”

Fiyero stopped immediately.

His grip tightened around Elphaba's hand as he turned toward the student who had spoken.

The entire room seemed to go still.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

The boy visibly faltered.

“N-no.”

“No?”

The single word landed harder than Elphaba expected.

“No. No problem.”

Fiyero held his gaze for another moment.

“Then I think you owe Elphaba an apology.”

The boy blinked.

“What?”

“Elphaba,” Fiyero said. “That's her name.”

The boy shifted uncomfortably.

“I didn't mean anything by it.”

“You called her ‘the green girl.’”

For a moment, the boy looked as though he might argue, but his shoulders sagged instead. He glanced toward Elphaba.

“Sorry, Elphaba.”

Fiyero nodded once.

The boy wasted no time retreating toward another table.

Silence lingered throughout the dining hall.

Then Fiyero looked around the room.

“And while we’re at it,” he added, “that goes for everyone else, too.”

His voice wasn't loud.

It didn't need to be.

Every eye in the room was already on him.

“If anyone has a problem with my girlfriend,” he said, “then you can take it up with me.”

Silence.

Elphaba's eyes widened.

Around them, several students looked equally stunned.

Fiyero simply turned back to her. The edge vanished from his expression almost immediately.

“Come on,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze. “Our food's going to get cold.”

He led her toward their table as conversation slowly began to return around them.

Elphaba barely heard any of it.

Her thoughts were fixed on a single word.

Girlfriend.

He had called her his girlfriend.

Not quietly.

Not when they were alone.

In front of everyone.

And that meant more to her than she knew how to explain.

Elphaba watched him as they settled across from each other, still unsure what to say.

She picked up a muffin from the tray between them and turned it absently in her hands before finally looking up.

“You called me your girlfriend.”

Fiyero stopped mid-bite and looked at her, confused.

“You are my girlfriend.”

A smile immediately spread across her face.

He said it so easily, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Fiyero reached across the table, and after only a moment's hesitation, she slipped her hand into his.

“Thanks,” she said quietly.

“For what?”

“For what you said.”

His thumb brushed across the back of her hand.

“You don't have to thank me.”

He shook his head.

“Nobody gets to talk about you like that.”

Something softened inside her.

Neither of them spoke. They simply sat there smiling at each other.

Then Fiyero leaned back in his chair.

“So,” he said, “I was thinking.”

Elphaba raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?”

A grin spread across his face.

“I know we're meeting the others later, but tomorrow night I'd like to take you somewhere.”

She blinked.

“You mean… like on a date?”

“Yes.”

He laughed.

“Is it strange that I want to take my girlfriend on a date?”

There it was again.

Girlfriend.

Elphaba felt her heart flutter.

She wondered if she would ever get used to hearing it.

“I'd really like that.”

“Great,” Fiyero said, grinning. “Now come over here. You're too far away.”

Elphaba laughed and stood, preparing to drag her chair around to his side of the table.

Instead, Fiyero caught her hand and gently pulled.

Before she could react, she found herself sitting on his lap.

Her eyes widened.

“Fiyero!”

A few nearby students looked over.

“People are staring.”

“I know.”

He didn't sound remotely concerned.

Elphaba tried not to laugh.

“You're impossible.”

“So I've been told.”

His arms settled comfortably around her waist.

For once, Elphaba didn't feel the need to fill the silence.

She became acutely aware of how easy it felt to be there.

To sit with him.

To let herself lean against him.

To stop worrying about who was watching.

Fiyero brushed a loose braid behind her ear.

“You're thinking again.”

“I do that sometimes.”

“Dangerous habit.”

She laughed.

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth before he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

She felt herself blush.

“Fiyero.”

“What?”

“You're ridiculous.”

“That's one of the things you like about me.”

Unfortunately, he was probably right.

“Come on,” she said, slipping off his lap before she completely forgot they were in a public dining hall. “Let’s get out of here.”

As they carried their trays toward the return station, heads turned to follow them.

Elphaba noticed.

Fiyero acted as though they were the only two people in the room.

They dropped off their trays, and Fiyero offered her his hand again. She took it.

As they stepped outside together, fingers intertwined, Elphaba found herself smiling.

If she had been uncertain before, she wasn't anymore.

For the first time in her life, she had a boyfriend.

Something she had never truly believed was possible.

Yet as she walked beside him, hand in hand, she allowed herself to believe something else as well.

Maybe she really could be loved.

Maybe she always had been worthy of it.

* * *

By late afternoon, the sun hung low over the poppy fields surrounding Shiz.

The others had already claimed a patch of grass by the time Elphaba and Fiyero arrived.

Boq and Galinda immediately cheered and whistled as they approached hand in hand, causing Elphaba to roll her eyes and laugh.

“Well, it's about time,” Boq said, shifting one of the baskets aside to make room for them on the blanket.

“Oh, I knew it before they did,” Galinda chimed in proudly.

Fiyero laughed as he settled onto the blanket beside Elphaba.

Nessa offered them both a small smile.

“It's good to see you two.”

“You too, Nessa,” Elphaba replied.

She slipped her hand into Fiyero's, and he immediately squeezed it.

“Look at you,” Galinda said, glancing between them with a grin. “I don't think I've ever seen either of you like this before.”

“Like what?” Nessa asked.

Galinda looked scandalized.

“Well, completely gone over each other, obviously.”

“Alright, Galinda,” Elphaba said, laughing. “Let's talk about literally anything else.”

“Impossible.”

The conversation drifted from classes to professors to increasingly ridiculous stories from Fiyero's childhood.

Before long, everyone was laughing.

Fiyero eventually stretched out across the blanket with his head resting against Elphaba's leg, one arm draped across his stomach. His eyes were closed, though Elphaba was fairly certain he wasn't asleep.

Galinda was currently attempting to convince her to try a bottle of pink nail polish she'd brought with her.

“Galinda, pink and I don't have a good relationship.”

“Oh, Elphie,” Galinda said dramatically, shaking her head. “Pink goes good with green.”

“Goes well with green,” Elphaba corrected.

“It so does.”

Elphaba laughed.

“I have to agree,” Fiyero said without opening his eyes.

Several heads turned toward him. He finally cracked one eye open.

“You'd look great in any color.”

Elphaba felt herself blush.

She looked down and absentmindedly ran her fingers through his hair. A satisfied smile appeared on his face before he closed his eyes again.

“Oh, this is going to become unbearable, isn't it?” Galinda asked.

Boq groaned dramatically.

“Please. We're sitting right here.”

That only made everyone laugh harder.

As the conversation continued around them, Elphaba's attention drifted toward Nessa and Boq.

Nessa was showing him something in a book resting across her lap. Boq nodded along attentively.

Yet every so often, his gaze wandered.

Back to Galinda. Back to her smile.

Back to whatever story she was currently telling.

When she looked at Nessa, she realized her sister had noticed too. Elphaba felt a small pang of sympathy.

A small frown had settled on Nessa’s face.

Only for a moment.

Then Nessa looked up, caught Elphaba watching her, and offered a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes before returning her attention to the book.

“Do we really have to go to class tomorrow?” Galinda sighed, tilting her head back toward the setting sun.

“Indeed, we do,” Boq replied, reaching for his jacket. “We should probably head back and try to get some studying done.”

The group gathered their things, chatting and joking as they folded the picnic blanket.

Elphaba took Fiyero’s hand and turned to follow the others, but he gently pulled her back.

She looked up at him.

Fiyero smiled and revealed the hand he had been keeping behind his back.

A small bouquet of handpicked poppies.

“These are for you.”

Elphaba stared at the flowers for a moment before accepting them.

“When did you pick these?” she asked softly, unable to hide her smile.

Fiyero shrugged.

“A magician never reveals his secrets.”

Elphaba laughed.

“Thank you. They’re beautiful.”

His gaze softened.

“You’re beautiful.”

She felt her cheeks grow warm.

She looked up at him and smiled before leaning in to kiss him.

“Come on, lovebirds!” Galinda called from farther down the path.

They both laughed.

Fiyero stole one last quick kiss before taking her hand again. Together, they hurried to catch up with the others.

* * *

Elphaba stretched out her hand and closed her eyes, concentrating on the book resting on the table before her.

I have to learn to control it.

She thought about the injustice being done to the Animals.

About their rights being stripped away.

About the way they were treated as though they mattered less.

And how, in many ways, she had always understood that feeling herself.

She felt anger stirring within her with each thought.

Not wild anger. 

Focused anger.

Purpose.

A warmth spread through her hand.

Her eyes snapped open.

The book trembled slightly before rising into the air.

Slowly. Steadily.

Elphaba lifted her hand higher, and the book floated upward with it.

“Excellent,” Madame Morrible said from behind her. “Now, the other one.”

Elphaba turned her attention to the second book and extended her free hand. This time, the response was immediate. 

The second book rose into the air and hovered beside the first.

A smile spread across Elphaba's face.

She held both books suspended for a moment before lowering her hands and guiding them gently back onto the table.

“Remarkable,” Morrible said, genuine delight shining in her eyes. “Absolutely remarkable.”

Elphaba couldn't help smiling as Morrible moved around the table and took the seat across from her.

“You're improving quickly.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yes.” Morrible folded her hands together. “I've noticed that your control becomes much stronger when you're focused on something meaningful.”

Elphaba considered that.

“I suppose I've been thinking about the Animals.”

Morrible nodded thoughtfully.

“Yes. I suspected as much.”

Something about the way she said it made Elphaba pause, though she couldn't quite explain why.

Then Morrible smiled.

“I also heard your meeting at the conservatory went rather well. Professor Shrove spoke very highly of you.”

Elphaba straightened slightly.

“Really?”

“Very highly.”

A smile spread across her face.

“We've actually been invited to speak to the student government at Gilikin Academy tomorrow. It feels like a real step forward.”

“I'm sure it does.”

Morrible leaned forward slightly.

“It is impressive how much influence you've managed to build in such a short time.”

Elphaba felt a small swell of pride.

“We've worked very hard.”

“I can see that.”

Morrible's expression softened.

“The Wizard has always taken an interest in young people who inspire others.”

Elphaba blinked.

“The Wizard?”

“Yes.”

Morrible smiled.

“He has recently taken an interest in some of the discussions happening at Shiz.”

Elphaba's heart skipped.

Could the Wizard—the most powerful man in Oz—actually be paying attention?

Could he truly care about what was happening to the Animals?

“Really?” she asked, almost breathlessly. “Does that mean...”

Hope stirred inside her.

“Does that mean he's going to do something about this?”

“Well, I suspect we’ll be hearing more from him very soon.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means,” Morrible said, rising from her chair, “that sometimes change arrives when you least expect it.”

Elphaba stood slowly, still processing everything Morrible had told her. She wasn't entirely sure what it all meant.

 But if anyone in Oz had the power to create real change for the Animals, surely it was the Wizard.

“Thank you, Madame Morrible,” Elphaba said sincerely as she gathered her books. “That sounds really promising.”

“Of course, dearie,” Morrible replied with a smile. “I think you're going to find that the world is full of possibilities.”

Elphaba smiled and stepped into the hallway, clutching her books against her chest.

A contented sigh escaped her. For once, it felt as though things were moving in the right direction.

The gala had been a success.

Tomorrow, the ASU would be speaking at Gilikin Academy.

And now, perhaps, even the Wizard was beginning to pay attention.

As she made her way down the corridor, her thoughts drifted to Fiyero.

She couldn't wait to tell him about the conversation.

* * *

The rest of the day passed in a blur as Elphaba waited in growing anticipation for her date with Fiyero that evening.

By the time six o'clock arrived, her stomach was tied in nervous knots.

She stepped into her dorm room and dropped her books onto the bed.

Fiyero would be stopping by around seven, which left her with nearly an hour to get ready.

Not that she expected it to take that long. Still, she wanted to make sure she looked nice.

After staring into her closet for several minutes, she finally settled on a knee-length burgundy knit dress.

She laid it carefully across the bed and turned toward the bathroom, only to notice something sitting on her desk.

A pair of small gold studs rested on top of a folded note.

Frowning slightly, Elphaba crossed the room and picked it up. A smile immediately spread across her face.

For your date tonight! You will look fabulous.

- G

She laughed softly.

Only Galinda.

Elphaba picked up the earrings and held them against her ears in the mirror.

After a moment, she nodded approvingly and set them back down before heading to shower.

She took her time getting ready afterward, trying several different styles with her braids before finally settling on wearing them half up and half down.

It was simple. But she liked it.

She had just fastened the gold studs when a knock sounded at the door.

Her heart fluttered.

For a moment, she simply stared at the door.

Then she let out a breath, slipped on her jacket, and crossed the room.

The moment she opened it, she couldn't help smiling.

Fiyero was standing in the hallway with a grin already on his face.

He wore dark slacks and a midnight blue sweater, looking effortlessly handsome as always.

“Hey,” he said.

He leaned down and kissed her.

Elphaba immediately caught the familiar scent of clean soap and a faint trace of spice she still couldn't place.

“Hi,” she replied softly when they finally pulled apart.

For a moment, he simply looked at her.

“I like your hair like that.”

A blush crept across her cheeks.

“Thank you.”

His smile widened.

“You look really pretty.”

Elphaba ducked her head, unable to stop smiling.

“Let's go?”

She nodded.

Elphaba slipped her hand into his as they made their way across campus, the evening air cool around them.

Eventually, Fiyero led her toward a small Gilikinese restaurant just beyond the edge of campus, one she had somehow never noticed before.

Warm golden lights spilled through the windows. Inside, the restaurant felt cozy and intimate.

A host approached as they entered.

“Reservation for two under Tigelaar,” Fiyero said.

The host smiled.

“Yes. Right this way.”

They were led to a table near the window, where a small candle flickered between two open menus.

“This is nice,” Elphaba said, glancing around once they were seated. “I've never noticed this restaurant before.”

“My mother used to bring me whenever we visited this part of Oz,” Fiyero said. “I think you'll like it.”

Elphaba smiled and lowered her eyes to the menu, scanning the options.

Fiyero looked up from his own menu and smiled.

“How was your day?”

“Good,” Elphaba said, returning his smile. “I had my lesson with Madame Morrible today.”

Fiyero waited for her to continue.

“She said she thinks the Wizard might be able to help the Animals. Well, he seems to be interested in what's been happening at Shiz. What we're doing.”

“Really?” Fiyero asked, leaning forward slightly. “Do you think he's serious about helping them?”

Elphaba paused.

“I don't know,” she admitted. “But if he is, imagine how much could change.”

Fiyero nodded.

“If anyone could turn things around, I suppose it would be him.”

Just then, a waiter approached their table.

“Good evening,” he said with a smile. “Have you decided what you'd like tonight?”

“Can we start with the flatbread and herb dip with roasted olives to share?” Fiyero asked before glancing at Elphaba.

She nodded.

“And I'll have the roasted squash and lentil stew.”

“The braised lamb with saffron rice for me,” Fiyero added.

The waiter collected their menus and disappeared toward the kitchen.

A comfortable silence settled between them.

The waiter returned a few minutes later carrying a basket of warm flatbread and a small dish of herb dip surrounded by roasted olives.

"Enjoy."

Fiyero tore off a piece of flatbread and passed the basket to Elphaba.

“You mentioned your mother earlier.”

Fiyero looked up.

“When she used to bring you here.”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“I did, didn't I?”

“What's she like?”

Something softened in his expression.

“She's kind.”

Elphaba laughed.

“That's not very descriptive.”

“It's true.”

She looked at him expectantly.

“My mother is probably the kindest person I know. She remembers everyone's name. Servants, guards, cooks... it doesn't matter.”

“She sounds lovely,” Elphaba said with a smile. “And your father?”

Fiyero hesitated.

“He's a good man.”

He slowly turned his glass between his fingers.

“But he's also a king.”

Elphaba nodded.

“He always expected me to take my responsibilities seriously.”

“Did you?”

Fiyero laughed.

“Not particularly.”

Elphaba laughed too.

“I think he spent most of my childhood wondering if I'd ever take anything seriously.”

“And did you ever?”

His eyes met hers.

“Eventually.”

Something in the way he said it made her stomach flutter.

Then his expression softened.

“What about you?”

The smile faded slightly from Elphaba's face.

“Well... my mother died when I was young. Right after Nessa was born.”

Fiyero's expression immediately changed.

“I'm sorry.”

Elphaba nodded.

“I didn't really know her.”

A brief silence settled between them.

“My father...” She looked down at the table. “We don't have the best relationship.”

“Because you're green?”

She gave a small nod.

“And because of Nessa.”

Fiyero frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Elphaba took a slow breath.

“When my mother was pregnant with Nessa, my father became terrified she'd be born green too.”

Her fingers tightened slightly around her glass.

“So he made her eat milkflowers.”

Fiyero stared at her.

“When Nessa was born, her legs...” Elphaba swallowed. “They never worked properly.”

Silence.

When she finally looked up, Fiyero was already shaking his head.

“Elphaba.”

His voice was quiet but firm.

“That wasn't your fault.”

“Well, I was born green—”

“No.”

He reached across the table and took her hand.

“Your father made that choice.”

His grip tightened slightly.

“You were a child. You didn't do anything wrong.”

Something caught in her chest.

Because part of her had always known that. And yet, hearing someone else say it felt different.

Before she could respond, the waiter appeared beside their table carrying two steaming plates.

“Roasted squash and lentil stew,” he said, setting the dish in front of Elphaba.

“Braised lamb with saffron rice.”

The interruption broke the heaviness of the moment just enough.

The waiter smiled.

“Enjoy,” he said, walking away.

Fiyero glanced down at Elphaba's stew.

“I was hoping you'd order that.”

Elphaba blinked.

“Why?”

“Because now I can steal some.”

A laugh escaped her before she could stop it. And just like that, some of the weight in her chest began to lift.

The rest of the evening passed easily.

They traded embarrassing school stories, talked about their favorite places in Oz, and laughed far more than either of them expected.

By the time they stepped back out into the cool evening air, Elphaba realized she wasn't quite ready for the night to end.

“What are you going to do now?” she asked as they made their way back toward campus, their fingers intertwined.

Fiyero shrugged.

“After I walk you back, I was just going to head to my dorm.”

Elphaba hesitated.

“You know,” she said, trying and failing to sound casual, “I've never actually seen where you live.”

Fiyero glanced over at her, surprise flickering briefly across his face.

“You haven't, have you?”

She shook her head.

“Do you want to?”

“Would that be okay?”

A smile spread across his face.

“Elphaba, of course it would be okay.”

She felt some of her nervousness melt away.

“Okay.”

Together they continued toward Deckens Hall, their footsteps echoing softly through the quiet campus.

The closer they got, the more aware Elphaba became that they would soon be alone.

Truly alone.

Her heartbeat quickened.

Part nerves. Part excitement.

Yet despite both, she couldn't think of anywhere else she wanted to be.

Not tonight.

* * *

They stood outside Fiyero's suite as he turned the key in the lock.

“I apologize in advance for the mess,” he said, glancing back at Elphaba. “Don't judge me.”

Elphaba raised an eyebrow but said nothing, unsure what she was about to walk into.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside, reaching over to switch on the light.

Elphaba wandered farther into the room as Fiyero closed the door behind them.

She looked around, then frowned.

There was a jacket draped across the neatly made bed and a few scattered papers on the desk.

Otherwise, the suite looked immaculate.

“Fiyero,” she deadpanned, turning back toward him. “Where is the mess?”

He blinked.

Then gestured vaguely toward the desk.

“And the jacket...” His voice trailed off.

Elphaba stared at him for a moment.

Then she started laughing.

“I can't believe how messy you are,” she said between laughs. “This is absolutely unacceptable.”

“I know,” Fiyero replied solemnly. “It's gotten completely out of hand.”

That only made her laugh harder.

“Oh, I can see that,” she managed. “Someone should call the clean patrol immediately. You have got to be stopped.”

Fiyero burst out laughing.

“Well, that's just rude.”

“It’s true.”

“You wound me.”

Elphaba laughed again, shaking her head.

He stepped closer.

“Are you making fun of me?”

“Maybe just a little.”

“A little?”

“A reasonable amount.”

Fiyero smiled and leaned down to kiss her.

When he pulled back, the mischievous look in his eyes lingered.

“Well,” he said, “we simply can't have that.”

Elphaba laughed again.

The sound seemed to catch his attention immediately, and he smiled.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Fiyero.”

He shook his head.

“I just like hearing you laugh.”

Heat immediately rose to her face.

“That's a strange thing to say.”

“Why?”

“I don't know.”

A grin spread across his face.

“Because you're embarrassed?”

“Maybe.”

His smile only widened.

“You should do it more often.”

“Laugh?”

“Like that.”

Elphaba looked down, shaking her head.

“You make it sound like it's some rare event.”

“It is.”

That earned another laugh.

“There.”

“Stop,” she laughed.

“See? That one too.”

Elphaba covered her face with one hand.

“You are impossible.”

“Maybe.”

He gently pulled her hand away from her face, his expression softening.

“I mean it.”

Her breath caught slightly.

“I like seeing you happy.”

The teasing slowly vanished between them.

Suddenly they were standing much closer than before.

Fiyero's gaze drifted over her face.

The loose braids. The gold earrings. The burgundy dress.

“You look beautiful tonight.”

The words settled somewhere deep in her chest.

No matter how many times he complimented her, part of her still struggled to believe him.

“You always say that.”

“Because it's true.”

Elphaba looked away.

Fiyero reached up and gently tilted her chin back toward him.

“Hey.”

She met his eyes.

“It's true.”

The sincerity in his voice made it impossible to look away.

Slowly, she leaned up and kissed him. 

Fiyero smiled against her lips before pulling her closer. She felt his hands settle at her waist as hers slid up to his shoulders.

A soft laugh escaped her when their noses bumped.

“Careful,” Fiyero murmured.

“Your fault.”

“Definitely not.”

“Definitely yours.”

“Agree to disagree.”

Elphaba laughed once more before kissing him again.

Fiyero deepened the kiss, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. Her fingers threaded through his hair as she melted into him. 

Without thinking, she took a step backward.

He followed.

And another.

The edge of the bed brushed against the backs of her legs.

She sank onto it, kicking off her boots before scooting further up the mattress. He moved with her, settling over her without breaking the kiss.

He tugged lightly at her bottom lip before his mouth left hers, tracing a path along her jaw.

Elphaba's breath caught.

She tilted her head instinctively as his lips slowly moved down her neck, warm and lingering. 

The sensation sent a shiver through her, and she let out a soft moan.

“I love your skin,” he murmured against her throat.

The words made her heart stumble.

His tongue traced circles on her neck before his lips gently pulled at her skin. 

“I can’t get enough.”

Elphaba tangled her fingers deeper into his hair, bringing him closer.

Nobody had ever said things like that to her.

Nobody had ever looked at her the way he did.

She let her head fall back against the pillow, offering him more. 

His kisses grew hungrier, more insistent, as his hands drifted lower. 

And when his fingers grazed her thigh, pushing up her dress, a sharp ripple of heat surged through her, pooling low in her belly.

Then it was too much.

“Fiyero,” she gasped, breathless. “Wait.”

He stopped immediately.

Propping himself up on his arms, he looked down at her, concern replacing the heat that had been in his eyes moments before.

“Are you alright?”

Elphaba nodded and reached up to brush a curl from his forehead.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “It's just... I've never done this before.”

She looked away briefly before meeting his gaze again.

“And even though I want to, I don't know if I'm ready yet.”

Understanding immediately softened his expression.

“Okay.”

The simple response made something in her chest loosen.

He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek before sitting up.

“There's no rush, Elphaba.”

He offered her a hand and helped her sit up beside him.

“We go at your pace.”

A smile spread across her face.

“Thank you.”

Fiyero smiled back.

“You never have to thank me for that.”

Elphaba leaned over and kissed his cheek.

“Is it okay if we just sleep tonight?”

“More than okay.”

The answer came so quickly that she laughed softly.

Fiyero stood and crossed to his closet.

“I should warn you,” he said as he rummaged through a drawer, “everything I own is probably going to be too big.”

“That seems likely.”

“Ah, here we go.”

He pulled out a long t-shirt and handed it to her.

“This is probably your best option.”

Elphaba held it up.

It looked enormous.

“Perfect.”

While she changed in the bathroom, Fiyero got ready for bed himself.

When she emerged a few minutes later, her braids gathered into one larger braid down her back, she found him already sitting against the headboard in a t-shirt and shorts.

His eyes immediately found her, and a smile tugged at his lips.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Elphaba narrowed her eyes.

“Fiyero.”

“You look cute.”

She rolled her eyes, though she couldn't quite suppress her smile.

He pulled back the comforter.

“Come here.”

After switching off the light by the door, Elphaba crossed the room and slipped onto the mattress beside him.

She settled against his chest as his arms wrapped around her. Beneath the blanket, she felt the warmth of his legs tangled with hers.

His chin rested lightly against the top of her head.

“Is this okay?” he asked quietly.

Elphaba smiled and curled a little closer.

“This is perfect.”

She rested her hand against his chest.

“Tonight was perfect.”

A soft kiss brushed the top of her braids.

“I'm glad.”

As she lay there in his arms, listening to his breathing and feeling his fingers lazily trace patterns against her shoulder, sleep began to pull at the edges of her consciousness.

The last thing she remembered before drifting off was the feeling of being safe.

And, perhaps for the first time in her life, completely wanted.

* * *

Elphaba gently turned the key in the lock of her dorm room, hoping to slip inside without attracting attention.

“Elphie!”

Galinda's voice rang out the moment the door opened.

Elphaba sighed.

So much for that.

“Good morning, Galinda.”

“Oh no, don't you ‘good morning, Galinda’ me, missy,” Galinda said, jumping off her bed. “Where have you been?”

Before Elphaba could answer, Galinda gasped dramatically and slapped a hand over her mouth.

“Elphaba, what is that on your neck?”

Elphaba turned toward the mirror and immediately reached for the small purple bruise.

“Nothing.”

“That is definitely not nothing.”

“Galinda...”

“Did you two—”

“I need to get ready,” Elphaba cut in. “I have a train to catch.”

Grabbing the clothes draped over her chair, she hurried into the bathroom before Galinda could continue.

She paused in front of the mirror, her eyes drifting back to the bruise.

The corners of her mouth lifted as memories of the night before resurfaced.

After a moment, she shook her head.

Focus.

She had a forum to attend. 

A train to catch. 

And a speech to give.

She eyed the mark one last time.

Turtleneck it was.

After a quick shower, she got dressed, gathered her books, and only managed to escape after promising Galinda she would tell her everything later.

She hurried across campus toward the train station, mentally rehearsing the speech she would be giving at the civic engagement forum Gilikin Academy's student government had invited the ASU to attend.

When she stepped onto the platform, she found Fiyero, Nyliss, and Tieran already waiting.

Fiyero's face immediately brightened when he saw her.

“Hey.”

He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her lips as she approached.

Elphaba smiled despite herself.

“Ready?” Tieran asked.

“Ready,” she replied.

“Got the banner,” Tieran said, patting the rolled fabric tucked beneath his arm.

“Good,” Nyliss said. “Because if these people spend the entire forum talking about committee budgets and student mixers, I'm leaving.”

Fiyero laughed.

“You always say that,” Elphaba said, glancing at Nyliss.

“And I always mean it.”

The distant whistle of an approaching train echoed across the platform.

Moments later, the Gillikin Express glided into the station, its polished violet exterior gleaming beneath the morning sun.

“All aboard!” the conductor called.

Excitement fluttered in Elphaba's chest as she followed the others onto the train.

They settled into a four-seat compartment surrounding a small table by the window. Tieran immediately spread several papers across the table while Nyliss dropped into his seat with a dramatic sigh.

For the next hour, they reviewed talking points, debated strategy, and ran through possible questions from the audience.

“We should focus on the accessibility issue,” Tieran said.

“No,” Nyliss countered. “We should focus on discrimination. People remember outrage.”

“People also stop listening when you yell at them,” Elphaba replied.

“I don't yell.”

The three of them stared at him.

Nyliss sighed.

“Fine. I yell a little.”

Fiyero laughed.

“For what it's worth, you're both right.”

Nyliss rolled his eyes.

“That's not how arguments work.”

“Sure it is,” Fiyero said. “People need to care enough to pay attention, but they also need something they can actually do about it once they're listening.”

Tieran nodded.

“That's... actually a good point.”

“I have those occasionally.”

They all laughed as the countryside rolled past beyond the window.

By the time the towers of Gilikin Academy appeared in the distance, Elphaba felt ready.

They walked into the school and were immediately greeted by a student government representative.

“Welcome to Gilikin Academy. I'm Aurex,” the boy said, extending his hand. “We're honored you could make the trip.”

Nyliss's brow furrowed slightly at the word honored, though he wisely kept the comment to himself.

After exchanging greetings, they followed Aurex into a lecture hall.

Around a hundred students filled the seats, chatting amongst themselves as they waited for the next speakers. Student government banners lined the walls behind the stage.

Aurex took their banner and secured it beside the others before returning to his seat.

The student government president stepped forward and raised a hand for silence.

“May I have your attention, please?” he said into the microphone. “Today we're pleased to welcome representatives from the Animal Student Union at Shiz University, who will be speaking to us about the current Animal rights issue.”

Polite applause rippled through the room.

Elphaba's heart pounded.

Beside her, Fiyero squeezed her hand.

She glanced up at him and smiled before stepping forward.

“We're here today because Animals across Oz are losing opportunities that should belong to everyone,” she began.

The room quieted.

“Animal students are being denied access to education. Animal teachers are being pushed out of classrooms. And every year, fewer and fewer Animals are being given the chance to participate fully in our society.”

She paused briefly.

“Many people see these things happening and assume there's nothing they can do about it. We disagree.”

A few students nodded.

“The Animal Student Union was founded on a simple belief: students have power. Universities are shaped by the people who study in them. If we choose to speak up, organize, and support one another, then our voices can be impossible to ignore.”

This time the applause was stronger.

When it faded, a student near the front raised her hand.

“What can students at Gilikin Academy actually do to help?”

Elphaba smiled.

“Start conversations. Challenge discrimination when you see it. Support Animal students and faculty. Organize events. Write to your administration. Change rarely happens because one person takes action. It happens when many people decide the issue matters.”

The student nodded thoughtfully.

More applause followed.

Afterward, Tieran spoke about coalition-building and practical ways student organizations could work together across universities. Nyliss followed with a passionate speech about the dangers of remaining silent in the face of injustice, earning both enthusiastic applause and a few uncomfortable looks.

By the time Fiyero stepped forward, Elphaba felt the presentation had gone remarkably well.

“A year ago, I probably wouldn't have been standing here,” he began.

A few students laughed.

“Honestly, I probably wouldn't even have been paying attention.”

More laughter rippled through the room.

“The reason I joined the ASU wasn't because somebody forced me to. It wasn't because I suddenly became interested in politics.”

He glanced toward Elphaba.

“It's because someone challenged me to look at things differently.”

The room grew quiet.

“Most of us like to think that if something unfair was happening, we'd notice.”

He paused.

“But the truth is, sometimes we don't.”

“Sometimes injustice becomes so normal that we stop seeing it.”

He gestured toward Elphaba.

“The work happening at Shiz exists because of Elphaba.”

“She's the one who started these conversations.”

“She's the one who convinced people like me that staying silent wasn't enough.”

Elphaba felt warmth bloom in her chest.

Then Fiyero looked back out at the audience.

“Students have power,” he said. “You have the opportunity to create real change. Don't let it pass you by.”

The lecture hall erupted into applause.

Louder than before.

Several students exchanged glances and nodded enthusiastically.

Elphaba blinked in surprise.

Beside her, Tieran looked equally startled.

Even Nyliss appeared impressed.

The applause continued for several moments before finally beginning to fade.

As soon as the forum concluded, students surged toward the front of the room.

Questions flew from every direction.

“How can we start a chapter here?”

“Can students from other universities join?”

“Do you think the administration will support it?”

Elphaba smiled as she answered questions, explaining how the ASU had been organized at Shiz and encouraging interested students to get involved.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed an even larger crowd gathering around Fiyero.

Several students were hanging on his every word.

One boy was frantically taking notes.

Another asked if he would be willing to return and speak again in the future.

A strange feeling flickered briefly through her.

Not jealousy. Nothing like that.

Just surprise.

Most of what he was telling them were the very same things she had already said.

“Your speech was incredible.”

Elphaba looked up.

A student government representative had approached them.

But he wasn't looking at her. 

He was looking at Fiyero.

“Thank you,” Fiyero said. “But honestly, Elphaba deserves most of the credit.”

The representative nodded politely.

“Of course.”

Then he turned back to Fiyero.

“We'd love to have you back sometime.”

Elphaba's smile faltered for only a second.

Then she pushed the feeling aside.

In the end, the forum had been a success.

The representative finally moved on to speak with another group of students.

Fiyero turned back toward Elphaba, his face practically glowing.

“Did you see that?”

Elphaba smiled.

“See what?”

“All of this.”

He gestured around the lecture hall.

Students were still gathered in small groups, exchanging ideas and writing down names.

Several had already begun discussing how they might start their own chapter.

“Look what you made possible.”

The words caught her off guard.

“Fiyero—”

“I'm serious.”

He shook his head.

“When I first walked into one of your meetings, I never imagined it would become this.”

“It wasn't just me.”

“Maybe not,” he said. “But it started with you.”

Elphaba looked around the room.

The excitement. The conversations.

The possibility that real change might come from all of this.

A smile spread across her face.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “Maybe it did.”

Fiyero squeezed her hand.

“Definitely.”

Elphaba laughed quietly and squeezed his hand back.

Yet as she glanced once more toward the crowd gathered around them, a small part of her found itself replaying the applause.

The way the room had come alive when Fiyero spoke.

The way every eye in the room had seemed fixed on him.

The thought vanished almost as quickly as it came.

They had accomplished what they came here to do.

That was what mattered.

Fiyero pressed a quick kiss to her temple.

"Ready to go home?"

Elphaba smiled.

"Yeah."

Together, they headed for the station.